Becky Sauerbrunn, Kelley O’Hara Excited To Be Back With Royals After World Cup
Jul 17, 2019, 4:30 PM
Utah Royals' Kelley O'Hara and Becky Sauerbrunn talk to the media about the United States' victory in the FIFA Women’s World Cup and their return to the Royals at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy on Wednesday, July 17, 2019. (Laura Seitz, Deseret News)
(Laura Seitz, Deseret News)
SANDY, Utah – The United States Women’s National Team has settled in after winning their second consecutive and fourth overall World Cup in France. Utah Royals FC defenders Becky Sauerbrunn and Kelley O’Hara talked to the media for the first time since winning the World Cup.
Both O’Hara and Sauerbrunn were critical parts of the success for the United States as their defense was fantastic throughout the tournament.
“I knew we were capable of winning, but to actually win the sucker (World Cup) is a different feeling,” Sauerbrunn said.
They talked about the best moments from the time they spent in France and both said it was the celebration in the locker room with the team and coaching staff.
“The locker room celebration was the most fun because it is such an intense environment for such a long time,” O’Hara said. “Throughout the tournament you go up and down through emotions, and then afterwards, you kind of get to celebrate you get to enjoy a win. Then you wake up the next morning and it’s back to work. So, it was nice to finally exhale and actually get to celebrate and know that their was not more games left. But to celebrate with our team and staff, people don’t understand the amount of dedication that our staff gives.”
Now that the duo is back in town, they are ready to re-join the Utah Royals and go after the championship in the NWSL.
“We had to re-integrate ourselves with the team since we have been gone for like 60 days,” Sauerbrunn mentioned. “We are back with Utah, it’s now time to win this season.”
It is unknown whether O’Hara, Sauerbrunn and Christen Press will be available for the match on Friday.
“That’s a Laura Harvey question,” Sauerbrunn said.
The Royals will try to start their climb back up the table as they are currently in fifth place in the NWSL with 17 points, one point behind the Washington Spirit for fourth place.
They will host the Portland Thorn, who are in second place in the standings, on Friday at 8 p.m. The match will be streamed at sports.ksl.com or the KSL TV app.
