Leigh Ann Brown Announces Retirement

After back-to-back NWSL championships, FC Kansas City defender Leigh Ann Brown (nee Robinson) announced that she is retiring from professional soccer. Brown notched three caps with the US Women's National Team in 2013 under head coach Tom Sermanni, and played for the Atlanta Beat and the Philadelphia Independence in the WPS before joining FC Kansas City in the NWSL.

The defender served as the team's captain this year while Becky Sauerbrunn was away with the US Women's National Team. She was one of two players on the team to play every minute of the season and logged one goal and seven assists in her three years with the team.

Currently, there is not another true right back in FC Kansas City's lineup, so the team will likely be searching for someone to fill the gap in the offseason. However, if necessary, new addition Meghan Lisenby could fill the gap next season.

Lisenby was selected in the 2015 NWSL College Draft, where she was a defender at Texas A&M. She did not get very many minutes in the 2015 season, and when she did play she typically filled more of a defensive-midfield type role. However, she does have experience on the back line and could be trained to take over Brown's spot.

Brown is the second FC Kansas City player to announce their retirement in 2015 after Lauren Holiday, who played her last professional game last weekend.