A stroll through the Kansas City airport triggered a feeling of familiarity for U.S. women’s national team co-captain Becky Sauerbrunn. It persisted as she traveled to the team hotel last week, gazing out her window and recognizing the city’s landmarks and roads.
“It definitely still feels like home,” Sauerbrunn said. “A lot of fond memories here.”
That’s all that’s left now, though. Sauerbrunn played five seasons for FC Kansas City, a franchise in the National Women’s Soccer League. But the club folded last offseason before its player contracts were adopted by expansion-side Utah Royals FC.
Sauerbrunn is back playing in Kansas City for the first time Thursday, as the U.