It’s been almost four months since Becky Sauerbrunn retired from professional soccer, but some facets of her pregame routine have carried over to her game day now that she’s a broadcaster.
Sauerbrunn still gets movement in the morning whether that’s running, walking or partaking in a deep stretch. She still takes a pregame nap to power down. She still prioritizes hydration and ensures she’s fueling herself right. The pregame jitters feel the same. Except she’s not playing on the field, she watching from the sidelines as an analyst for the USWNT coverage on TNT’s pre, halftime and post-game shows.
“It’s funny,” Sauerbrunn told USSoccer.com. “It’s like all these things, I’m not actually physically doing a lot of work, but at the end of the day, I do feel like I’ve put a shift in.”
The legendary defender decided to hang up her cleats after her last hurrah with the USA, a title at the Concacaf W Gold Cup last year. Overall, Sauerbrunn helped the U.S. win two FIFA Women’s World Cups and eight Concacaf championships.
Shortly after she announced the news, a producer for TNT Sports reached out to see if she’d be interested in becoming on-air talent.
It wasn’t the first time she’d heard from that producer, but it was the first time she decided to take up the offer, now that her playing days were in the rearview. Sauerbrunn drew TNT’s attention, not only after a brilliant playing career for club and country, but also after becoming popular in media through podcasting, including co-hosting the podcast“Good Vibes FC” on the Women’s Game vertical of the Men in Blazers Media Network.
Those podcasts were integral in helping her get accustomed to talking about soccer rather than playing it.
“That really helped me get reps to feel comfortable with TV broadcast,” Sauerbrunn said. “Because you’re kind of talking about soccer off the cuff. You never know where you’re gonna go off to a tangent you’re on.”
Along with her pregame routine, she’s also found a similar sense of community joining broadcast teammates and former USWNT standouts Julie Foudy and Shannon Boxx along with seasoned host Sara Walsh.
“I’ve heard from colleagues of mine, peers that have retired, that one thing you miss the most is that sense of camaraderie and team,” Sauerbrunn said. “And to then immediately from one team go to this new broadcasting team, that’s been really nice.”
Sauerbrunn has five “broadcast caps” so far after the USWNT’s April camp, and there’s no looking back for her. She’s made peace with her playing career, and while she’s close to the game, she’s not itching to get back on the field.
“When I watch this team now, it's happiness, it's gratitude,” Sauerbrunn said. “I don't have that wistfulness, and maybe it's too soon — but right now — it's just gratitude for the career.”
Players and fans alike are surely glad that they can still see – and hear – the former U.S. captain at USWNT matches across the country.
She’ll get to experience another special moment on June 3 at Energizer Park in her home of St. Louis, Mo. as U.S. Soccer will celebrate her career pregame in a special ceremony before the match against China PR. It’s one more honor on the green grass for Sauerbrunn, and then she’ll head over to the TNT desk to resume her second career.
