Becky Sauerbrunn Passes the Torch as She Hails Naomi Girma the Key to USWNT’s Future

“Each generation has its stars, but the brightest moments come when one generation lights the way for the next.“ I think we can all agree with this, right? It’s like passing the baton, and no one’s done it better recently than Becky Sauerbrunn. The two-time World Cup winner just announced her retirement, and with it, she’s giving a big shout-out to USWNT stars Sam Coffey and Naomi Girma, suggesting that it’s time for the younger generation to shine. Do you agree with her?

Every woman’s soccer fan will know that Becky has been a pillar in women’s soccer for nearly 16 years, playing for clubs like FC Kansas City, Utah Royals, and the Portland Thorns in NWSL. And let’s not forget, she’s not just been a leader on the field, but also an incredible figure off it, helping to shape the future of women’s soccer. Nevertheless, it’s always tough when a legend steps down, but that’s how the game works, isn’t it? Someone has to step up and carry the legacy forward.

So, everyone’s probably wondering – who’s going to carry forward the amazing culture that Becky Sauerbrunn built? Well, right after announcing her retirement, she sat down with Rog on the MEN IN BLAZERS YouTube channel and revealed who she thinks will take the torch.

And guess who she named first? Sam Coffey. “So there’s a little bit in a couple of players that I really love. And first I’m going to say, Sam Coffey because I think she has the drive and the meticulousness and the perfectionism that I think I saw a little bit in myself when I was really young.” But then Becky also had some beautiful things to say about Naomi Girma, and it’s clear she’s got so much respect for her. Becky spoke about Naomi’s heart, and you could feel the admiration in her voice.

“I look at like a Naomi Girma, who just has such a big heart. And I’ve talked about this before, but she put on a mental health retreat with a common goal and brought in a bunch of NWSL players.” Becky called it one of the most meaningful experiences of her career, and you can see why

Naomi’s ability to bring people together and offer emotional support was something special. “It was one of the most beautiful experiences in my entire career, sharing this space with these amazing people and just talking about grief and loss and soccer and the joys, the highs, the lows.”

Don’t you agree? Naomi Girma at a very young age is captivating soccer fans with her incredible style of play. Girma was one of the crucial players for the USWNT 2024 Paris Olympics where her solid performance helped the team in securing the gold medal. Impressive, right? But here’s the big question we’re all left with:

After sharing the field with some of the greatest, why did Becky suddenly announce her retirement?

The real reason behind Becky Sauerbrunn’s unexpected retirement

Becky Sauerbrunn has been a rock wall for the USWNT with 219 appearances, two World Cup titles, three NWSL championships, and a Shield to her name. Yet, at 39, with so much more to give, she’s made the tough decision to retire. The big question: was it the right time? When Becky spoke to Sam Mewis on The Women’s Game, she opened up about her feelings.

She admitted saying it was not sudden as she had been thinking about it for a long period and she felt this was the right time to hang up the boots. “I think I was maybe dreading the end of it because I have no doubts that I have the best job in the world, the ending is sad and a little scary but I am also kind of excited to see what’s next and maybe it won’t be as awesome as playing but maybe it’ll be damn close.”

Becky’s departure marks the end of an era for the USWNT, but it’s also the start of something new, right? What do you think rising stars like Naomi Girma and Sam Coffey are ready to step up and carry the torch forward?