U.S. women’s national team goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher announced her retirement from international soccer Monday, ahead of the team’s two European friendlies against England and the Netherlands. She said the European matches will be her last.
A 2019 World Cup winner and gold medalist at this summer’s Paris Olympics, she will continue playing for the Chicago Red Stars in the NWSL. She re-signed with Chicago in September to play through the 2025 season, which will be her 10th season with the club.
For the USWNT, however, it’s the end of a major goalkeeping era. Naeher’s career stands comfortably in the top three amongst other World Cup winners Briana Scurry and Hope Solo.
“Every tear shed in the challenging times and disappointments made every smile and celebration in the moments of success that much more joyful,” Naeher wrote Monday in her announcement on social media. “This has been a special team to be a part of and I am beyond proud of what we have achieved both on and off the field.”
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Naeher made her debut a decade ago in December 2014, and after stints as the primary backup goalkeeper for the 2015 World Cup and 2016 Olympics, she took over the no. 1 spot following that quarterfinal exit. Ahead of what could be her two final games for the United States, she holds a record 88 wins, 14 draws and only six losses through 113 appearances.
“Having the opportunity to be a part of the USWNT for the last 15 years has been the greatest honor,” she wrote. “When I began this journey, I never could have imagined where it would take me.”
She earned her 100th cap earlier this year during the W Gold Cup and cemented her status not just as someone who could save penalty kicks, but convert them as well. In the W Gold Cup semifinal against Canada, she buried her attempt from the spot but also saved three of Canada’s attempts — marking her as the only USWNT goalkeeper to make three saves in a PK shootout. She’d repeat the same double later that spring, against Canada, during the SheBelieves Cup.
At the Olympics this summer, she once again stepped up to help propel the USWNT to their gold medal victory, including a poster-worthy save against Brazil in the closing moments of the gold cup game at Parc des Princes. Off the field, she bonded with the forward line of Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith and Mal Swanson (also known as “Triple Espresso”) who pulled her out of her shell.
“We’re making her a little more mushy gushy with us, which I think is nice,” Rodman said in France. “We’re opening up a side that I think has always been there, but it’s hidden a little bit.”
(Top photo: Joe Robbins / Getty Images)
