“Everything is going to be world-class and it’s a really exciting thing to be a part of,” These were the exact words of Becky Sauerbrunn after she signed with the Utah Royals before the start of the 2018 NWSL season. Coming off an impressive five-year stint with FC Kansas City — before the club later dissolved — the way the USWNT center-back expressed herself at the time made it clear just how thrilled she was to commit to the Beehive State project for the long term.

But talk about making the biggest U-turn — Sauerbrunn left the club just a couple of years later, leaving her former coach, Laura Harvey, feeling slighted. Interestingly, the English tactician had also joined the Royals around the same time the center-back did. However, the difference was that Becky left a year earlier than the Nuneaton, Warwickshire native. In fact, after leaving Utah, the American veteran ended up joining the Portland Thorns — a move that surely left Laura with a case of heartburn.

These feelings were made clear by the former Wolverhampton Wanderers and Birmingham City star at that time. But more recently, it came to light on a live episode of The Women’s Game podcast, which former USWNT midfielder Sam Mewis hosts alongside Becky Sauerbrunn. Addressing the audience during the chit-chat, Harvey said, “When she signed for the Thorns I was like, ‘You playing in a Thorns jersey makes me feel sick.’ Anytime, when I saw her in it, I used to text her something along those lines.”

Hearing this admission from the Arsenal boss made the whole room erupt in laughter, with Sauerbrunn joining in as well. After all, one can’t deny how side-splittingly Laura recalled throwing shade at the two-time World Cup winner for switching her NWSL alliance. Yet, that doesn’t mean the manager herself wasn’t guilty of doing the same.

It was shortly after Sauerbrunn’s departure that Harvey also left the Utah Royals to take up an assistant coaching role with the U.S. Women’s National Team. Now, you might argue that by this equation, Harvey too ended up betraying the Royals — and you’d be right. After all, she returned to Seattle Reign FC in 2021, a club she had already coached from 2013 to 2017 before leading Utah.

Regardless, what Laura Harvey meant to say for her former disciple was purely in a joking sense. No wonder even Becky also took it like a good sport. All said and done, we feel the USA defender made the right call to shake hands with the rival side of Utah Royals!

Becky Sauerbrunn did right in betraying Laura Harvey at Utah Royals

No offense to either the Utah Royals or even Laura Harvey, but the truth is the team wasn’t much of a success under the foreign manager. Forget winning any significant trophies — they barely even made a strong case for them. Meanwhile, after joining the Portland Thorns, it was almost as if the new club had unlocked the doors to succeed for Becky Sauerbrunn.

Though Becky Sauerbrunn’s prior stint with FC Kansas City saw her lift the NWSL Championship twice — and that too, consecutively in 2014 and 2015 — her time with the Thorns proved to be even more favorable. Aside from securing her career’s third Championship title in 2022, she also added the 2021 NWSL Shield, the Challenge Cup, the 2020 NWSL Community Shield, and the 2021 International Champions Cup to her decorated résumé.

Sauerbrunn played a pivotal role in the club’s remarkable run for silverware, offering the much-needed veteran experience and stability to the back line. That said, no one really blames either the Utah Royals or Laura Harvey for the lack of success during her time there.

In the end, the way Harvey openly admitted feeling bitter over Becky Sauerbrunn’s departure speaks volumes, making it clear just how crucial a chess piece she was for both the coach and the team. Don’t you feel the same way? Let us know in the comments!