USWNT members react to losing captain Becky Sauerbrunn for the 2023 Women’s World Cup

United States Women’s National Team coach Vlatko Andonovski and players Alex Morgan, Crystal Dunn and Sophia Smith speak to the media about the loss of captain Becky Sauerbrunn, and how they plan to go about playing in Australia and New Zealand without her at the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

Video transcript

VLATKO ANDONOVSKI: First, I want to say we're all gutted for Becky. It's no question that we're going to miss Becky. We're going to miss her on the field. We're going to miss her off the field. And if there is someone that has a relationship connection and someone that wanted Becky on this roster, that's me. But now-- that's part of sports, and we understand that things like this will happen. So we're very, very confident in the team that we have.

And we're very confident in the abilities of the players that we have on our team that will be able to overcome the deficiencies that may occur with Becky's absence.

ALEX MORGAN: I actually did speak with Becky and had no idea that she wouldn't be coming to the World Cup, and she told me that I was the second person to know, and that they had-- she was still processing everything. And I was just already immediately heartbroken for her. Becky is not only just a huge presence on the field and leader on the field, but she's a person who holds people accountable.

She raises the level of standards on every team she's on. And having played with her now for over 12, 13 years, I just have immense respect for her. And so when I got that news, I had to sit down for a little bit because I was honestly-- I was shocked and so heartbroken for her, but also for me and for this team because she's just had a huge impact on me and so many players. And I don't think that there's a bad thing that has come out of a teammate's mouth of Becky, ever, in her career, and that's a testament to her as a leader, a person, a player.

But yeah, I'm sure that she's still processing everything as some of us are that have been with her for this many years.

SOPHIA SMITH: It's heartbreaking, honestly. There aren't really a lot of words because it's just-- it's a big loss for us. Becky is someone that brings everything that a team wants, both on and off the field. She's a leader. She's a captain. She is a prime example of just how one person should carry themselves, not just on the field, but through life. So not having Becky there, it's going to be different. It's going to be a challenge, and it's going to require a lot of players to step up.

And I think that's a test that we can accomplish if we stick together. And I think regardless, Becky will be there in spirit. She's always still sending messages of encouragement, and texts, and she's always cheering us on.

CRYSTAL DUNN: When I got wind of Becky's status, I was really heartbroken for her. She's one of my really great friends. She's an amazing teammate. And everyone knows, the world knows she's an incredible leader. So losing her is bigger than just her play on the field. Her ability to gather the group and really lead us in the right direction at all times I think is something that we are going to greatly miss. I checked in with her.

We've had a lot of communication back and forth, and I think this is something that she really wanted to be a part, of course. And I know that she's hurting. And I think every day, she'll probably be on the journey of healing from it, but, you know, she is somebody that's going to be greatly missed.