Becky Sauerbrunn shares the news of her pregnancy with partner Zola Short, who is expecting their first child in October.
Rebecca Elizabeth Sauerbrunn built an extraordinary career as one of America’s most decorated soccer defenders.
The St. Louis native dominated the center-back position for over a decade, co-captaining the United States national team alongside Carli Lloyd from 2016 to 2018 before taking sole captaincy from 2021 to 2023.
Sauerbrunn earned 219 caps for her country, participating in four World Cups and claiming victory in both 2015 and 2019 while also securing Olympic gold in London 2012.
Her professional club career proved equally impressive, beginning with the Washington Freedom in 2010 before leading FC Kansas City to two NWSL championships.
The talented defender earned NWSL Defender of the Year honors four times across different clubs and concluded her career with Portland Thorns FC in 2024, where she captured her third championship.
Sauerbrunn’s consistency and leadership made her an anchor for both club and country, playing every minute for the United States during their triumphant 2015 World Cup campaign.
Becky Sauerbrunn Shares Pregnancy News With Fans
Former soccer star Becky Sauerbrunn announced her pregnancy in a heartwarming revelation on the “Good Vibes FC” podcast, which she co-hosts with former USWNT teammate Sam Mewis.
The 39-year-old defender shared the exciting news on May 20, 2025, catching even her co-host completely off guard with the unexpected announcement.
Sauerbrunn revealed that she and her partner Zola Short expect their first child in October 2025.
The couple met during their time at the University of Virginia, where both played soccer for the Cavaliers.
Their relationship blossomed from their shared passion for the sport, and now they embark on this new adventure together.
The pregnancy announcement came through a particularly amusing story about a friend’s three-year-old son named James, who had a meltdown at Norfolk Airport after learning he couldn’t retrieve his flushed stool from the toilet.
Sauerbrunn used this hilarious tale as her “good vibe of the weekend,” explaining how the story made her laugh while contemplating similar moments she might experience with her own child.
During the podcast episode, Sauerbrunn shared,
“I was crying, laughing so hard when he told the story because I was like, ‘Yeah these are the moments that I’m hopefully—if everything goes well—that I will get to experience.'”
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The former defender described feeling both excitement and nervousness about the journey ahead.
Sauerbrunn admits that her decision to start a family came naturally as she and Short felt the timing was right.
The couple found inspiration from friends who were having babies, including former USWNT teammates.
Alex Morgan recently welcomed her second child, Enzo, in March, while current national team players Andi Sullivan, Mallory Swanson, and Sophia Wilson have also announced pregnancies.
The retired soccer star expressed mixed emotions about her pregnancy, describing herself as simultaneously “scared” and “excited” about what lies ahead.
She revealed that many of her pregnant friends and mothers had “gatekept” information about pregnancy experiences, leaving her unprepared for some of the changes happening to her body.
Sauerbrunn’s pregnancy will impact her broadcasting career with TNT Sports, where she has been covering USWNT matches since her retirement.
She announced plans to step back from broadcasting duties as her due date approaches, but intends to continue her podcasting work with Mewis and The Women’s Network. During the podcast, Sauerbrunn explained,
“I’m probably not going to be doing broadcast after a while. I’ll be hopefully still doing stuff with you here in the house, but I’m going to be taking it easy for a little bit coming up here.”
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The former captain joins a growing trend of current and former USWNT players embracing motherhood while maintaining their connection to soccer.
With her partner Zola described as “stoked” about the pregnancy, the couple prepares for their October arrival while Sauerbrunn navigates the unfamiliar territory of pregnancy.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Sauerbrunn was a four-year letter winner in three sports at Ladue High School – soccer, volleyball, and basketball, where she was a three-year starter at point guard.
- She missed her entire sophomore season at the University of Virginia due to national team obligations at the 2004 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Championships in Thailand.
- Sauerbrunn was named NSCAA Scholar-Athlete of the Year and made the Academic All-American team during her senior year at Virginia in 2007.
