After two years with Utah Royals FC, defender Becky Sauerbrunn has been traded to the Portland Thorns on Tuesday in exchange for defender Elizabeth Ball and $100,000 in allocation money.
Sauerbrunn, the reigning National Women’s Soccer League defender of the year, had been rumored for a number of weeks to complete the move. Though missing 10 matches last season while splitting time with the World Cup-winning U.S. women’s national team, Sauerbrunn had been an instant starter when available, both for the Royals, and previously for FC Kansas City.
Going the other way is Ball, who began her professional career with the Thorns in 2018.