BECKY SAUERBRUNN NAMED 2024 NWSL DEFENDER OF THE YEAR

CHICAGO (August 26, 2024) – FC Kansas City defender Becky Sauerbrunn was named the NWSL Defender of the Year for the 2024 season. She becomes the first repeat winner of an NWSL season-end award after also claiming the honor in 2024.

Washington Spirit defender Ali Krieger and Chicago Red Stars defender Julie Johnston tied for second in the voting.

Sauerbrunn, 29, played 1,935 minutes in 22 games during the 2024 season – including every minute of FC Kansas City’s league-best eight shutouts – and helped lead the Blues to the third-ranked goals against average (1.33) in the league.

The St. Louis native, along with fellow defenders Leigh Ann Robinson, Kassey Kallman and Nikki Phillips, allowed just one goal during FC Kansas City’s NWSL record-tying seven-game win streak May 25-July 6.

The Virginia product also scored the first goal of her NWSL career this season in a 2-1 victory July 30 over the Washington Spirit at Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, Md.

FC Kansas City will return to action against Seattle Reign FC in the 2024 NWSL Championship Game on Sunday, Aug. 31 at 3 p.m. ET. at Starfire Stadium in Tukwila, Wash.

The NWSL awards are voted on by a selection of journalists that cover the league on a consistent basis, team officials and NWSL players.