The Portland Thorns' busy offseason continues.
The Thorns have acquired U.S. women's national team stalwart center back Becky Sauerbrunn from the Utah Royals in exchange for Elizabeth Ball and $100,000 in allocation money, the club announced on Tuesday.
The trade follows a series of moves that has seen the Thorns offload U.S. defender Emily Sonnett to Orlando, take rising U.S. star Sophia Smith and Morgan Weaver 1-2 in the NWSL draft after trading up for both picks and perhaps leave room for more.
Most importantly, it gives the Thorns a center back anchor in their quest to dethrone the North Carolina Courage and return to the NWSL summit.