The Portland Thorns have officially acquired veteran defender Becky Sauerbrunn from the Utah Royals in exchange for defender Elizabeth Ball and $100,000 in allocation money. That number could include up to $50,000 in 2021 if Ball meets certain standards in Utah, as well.

The news of Sauerbrunn coming to Portland first broke last week, but the details and finalization of the trade came this week.

Sauerbrunn, 34, has 164 caps and two Women’s World Cups with the United States Women’s National Team. Her experience will provide an upgrade at the center back position as Portland aims to challenge the North Carolina Courage for the NWSL Championship.

Sauerbrunn was included in the NWSL Team of the Year for 2019, joining now-fellow Thorns Tobin Heath and Lindsey Horan.

Elizabeth Ball’s contribution to the Thorns defense over the past two seasons should not be overlooked, though. She was a gadget for Portland’s defensive structure—playing in center back, right back, and even defensive midfielder last year.

Ball, 24, joins a Utah Royals squad that missed out on the NWSL Playoffs by four points in 2019.

Depth Chart

Head Coach Mark Parsons used a three-defender back line for the final two matches of 2019, but it is expected that he will return to his classic 4-2-3-1 formation for 2020.

Goalkeeper

Franch started the majority of games last season, and there's no reason she shouldn't be the starter heading into this year. Eckerstrom started in Franch's place for 10 matches in 2019.

Bixby's contract option was exercised for 2020, along with eight others.

Center Back

Sauerbrunn and Menges will be Portland's starters. The Sauerbrunn deal softens the blow of Portland trading Emily Sonnett to the Orlando Pride to get the #1 pick in the NWSL draft (Sophia Smith) this offseason.

Reynolds was usually the third center back whenever Parsons chose a back three, and she'll surely get starting minutes with Sauerbrunn playing for the USWNT in the Summer Olympics.

Menges and Pogarch both had their options picked up in the offseason. Menges was a semi-regular starter here last season.

Nally was the Thorns' 25th overall selection in the 2020 draft. A Third-Team All-American at Georgetown University, she could potentially see some playing time in her first year at either center back or outside back.

Left Back

Meghan Klingenberg Gabby Seiler Meaghan Nally Christen Westphal

This is Kling's spot to lose. The NWSL vet led the Thorns in minutes played last season (2,017), with the vast majority of them from left back.

Right Back

Ellie Carpenter Kelli Hubly Meaghan Nally Christen Westphal

Carpenter was signed to a contract extension in the offseason, while Westphal was acquired in a trade with the Reign, and has experience at both fullback spots.

Central/Defensive Midfielder

Lindsey Horan Celeste Bourielle Gabby Seiler Meghan Klingenberg Raquel Rodríguez Angela Salem Kelli Hubly Emily Ogle

I'm fairly confident that Horan and Bourielle will be the bonafide starters, at least to begin the season. Horan, who may be one of the most underrated players in women's soccer, recently helped the USWNT qualify for the Olympics, and she'll certainly be a part of the Olympic squad this summer.

With Dagny Brynasdóttir gone, Portland picked up Costa Rican international Raquel "Rocky" Rodríguez from Sky Blue FC in a trade for Midge Purce. Rodríguez spent most of her time for Sky Blue in a more attacking role, but she does have experience playing as a box-to-box mid and adds all-important depth to the midfield group.

All others listed have started in this position at some point for the Thorns last year. Keep in mind, there are generally 2-3 of these players on the field at any given time.

Central/Attacking Midfielder

Christine Sinclair Rocky Rodríguez Lindsay Horan Celeste Bourielle

Depending on which game you're watching and how you categorize this position, it could be a second striker or just another midfielder. But (much like Diego Valeri for the Timbers) it is best defined as "the Sinclair position."

Brazilian Andressinha would be listed as a backup here, but she and the club mutually agreed to part ways so she could get more playing time.

Left Midfielder/Winger

Tobin Heath Meghan Klingenberg Rocky Rodríguez Sophia Smith Morgan Weaver

Heath had a best-XI season last year, and she will be the definite starter when she is available. Klingenberg plays as a left midfielder when the Thorns move to a back three, and Rodríguez will certainly get minutes as an attacking mid.

Right Midfielder/Winger

Tyler Lussi Simone Charley Rocky Rodríguez Sophia Smith Morgan Weaver

This is the main position of concern for the Thorns Portland's four main starters at this position—Ana-Maria Crgogorcevic, Caitlin Foord, Margaret Purce, and Hayley Raso—all departed from the Thorns in the offseason.

Charley and Lussi are the only players on the roster with starting experience from last year. I listed Lussi first assuming Charley starts up top, but I don't necessarily think Lussi will start the majority of games at right wing.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't mostly guessing on where exactly Smith and Weaver will play, but they both have experience.

Forward

Simone Charley Christine Sinclair Sophia Smith Tyler Lussi Tobin Heath Morgan Weaver

Other than Heath on the left, the front three is pretty up in the air. Charley could get more minutes as a lone striker, Smith could jump right into a starting role, or maybe Parsons moves to a two-forward system with Heath alongside one of the other two.

Parsons didn't tip his hand as to who was starting up top in this recent podcast with the club's Richard Farley, but he did mention there were four players who "have the potential for an immediate impact," two of which obviously being Smith and Weaver.

Thanks for Reading!

Anyone who has watched the Thorns knows how crazy lineups can get throughout the season. Please don't take these speculations as canon!

I'm looking forward to covering both the Thorns and Timbers this season and I hope to get more familiar with the new faces on this team. More than anything, I'm excited for the season to start. If this team can get its chemistry right, I definitely think they have the talent to compete with North Carolina in 2020.