“Nah, I don’t think I’m ever going to be at peace with it,” said Becky Sauerbrunn, “I feel like I probably could have gone another year, maybe two years.” That’s what the USWNT veteran admitted shortly after hanging up her boots last year, making it clear she wasn’t fully at peace with her decision. Shocking right? Almost as if one would ask the returned center-back to make a U-turn from her decision. While it may seem unlikely that Sauerbrunn will return to the field, her former NWSL coach, Laura Harvey, has left the door wide open for her to make a comeback!

Before you get too excited thinking about the 39-year-old’s potential return, allow us to set the scene. It all began in a special live episode of the Good Vibes FC segment from The Women’s Game podcast, co-hosted by Seattle Reign star Lynn Biyendolo and former USWNT stars Sam Mewis and Becky Sauerbrunn. Prior to the Seattle Reign vs. Portland Thorns clash over the Matchday 5 weekend, the hosts invited Laura Harvey for a tête-à-tête.

During the conversation, Mewis asked the English tactician whether she felt relieved that Becky had retired and that the 44-year-old no longer had to face her as one of the threats on the field. Naturally, Harvey knew the answer, considering she not only coached Sauerbrunn for a couple of seasons at Utah Royals but has also faced the St. Louis, Missouri defender as her rival after she joined the Thorns. Hence, the Reign boss agreed and answered, “Always [relieved].”

But before she could think of ending it there, the former Arsenal boss ended up making a heartwarming proposal to the former Thorns star. “… Or she could come play for us, either one works,” added Harvey. Looks like someone wants to coach their former disciple again. But wait! Before you start your nostalgia engines, we’d like to tell you there’s more.

While it’s true that Laura won the hearts of everyone in the room with her heartfelt admission, the atmosphere quickly shifted when her current disciple, Lynn Biyendolo, asked her manager whether she had any advice before facing the Thorns. After all, this was Lynn’s first-ever appearance in one of the NWSL’s most heated rivalries, called the Cascadia rivalry. Without missing a beat, Harvey responded, “F*** Portland. That’s the only advice I have.”

Well, looks like the advice worked as Reigns managed to secure a close 1-0 win over Thorns at Lumen Field. A goal from winger Maddie Dahlien inside four minutes from the kick-off proved decisive for the home side. Meanwhile, Sauerbrunn’s former side was forced to return empty-handed as they lost the 42nd Cascadia rivalry match-up.

The Thorns’ defeat leveled the all-time series at 16 wins, 16 losses, and 10 draws. Then again, being able to win this fixture wasn’t the only subtle shade that Harvey threw at her ex-player.

Laura Harvey bantered with Becky Sauerbrunn for joining the Portland Thorns

Laura Harvey took charge of the Utah Royals in 2018, coincidentally the same year Becky Sauerbrunn joined the club. However, the pair’s timelines didn’t quite align for long, as the center-back departed a year before the Warwickshire native. Following her exit from Utah, Sauerbrunn went on to sign with the Portland Thorns. While the defender made the switch so that she could play at home, it left her coach with heartburn. 

Yet more recently, those emotions resurfaced during a similar podcast appearance. Speaking to the audience in the middle of the conversation, Harvey said, “When she signed for the Thorns I was like, ‘You playing in a Thorns jersey makes me feel sick.’ Anytime, when I saw her in it, I used to text her something along those lines.”

Quite hilarious, isn’t it? That explains why Laura Harvey was so keen on convincing Becky Sauerbrunn to come out of retirement and join her at Seattle Reign.