Alyssa Naeher Retires: A Legacy in U.S. Women’s Soccer
Alyssa Naeher, the U.S. women’s national team goalkeeper celebrated for her calm presence under pressure, has announced her retirement from international soccer. After an impressive 11-year career representing the United States, she will bow out following a pair of upcoming matches in Europe.
Throughout her career, Naeher has earned recognition not only for her skills but also for her strong leadership. She is among a select group of just three goalkeepers who have surpassed 100 appearances for the national team, clocking in 113 games with 110 starts, 88 wins, and a remarkable 68 shutouts.
Naeher made her national team debut in 2014 and served as the backup to Hope Solo during the victorious 2015 World Cup campaign. After the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, she secured her role as the team’s starting goalkeeper and contributed to the U.S. team’s success in claiming the Women’s World Cup title in 2019.
During her standout career, she achieved numerous highlights, including being the starting goalkeeper for the U.S. team that won the Women’s World Cup in 2019 and claiming a gold medal in the 2023 Olympics held in France. Notably, she is the only U.S. goalkeeper to record a shutout in both a World Cup and an Olympic final.
An unforgettable moment came during the Olympic final, where she made a pivotal one-handed save during stoppage time to secure a 1-0 victory over Brazil. Following the match, Mallory Swanson, who scored the game’s only goal, ran from the opposite end of the field to embrace Naeher as the final whistle blew.
Naeher announced her retirement via social media on Monday, reflecting on her journey: “Every tear shed in the challenging times and disappointments made every smile and celebration in the moments of success that much more joyful. 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. The memories I have made over the years will last me a lifetime.”
Aside from her international achievements, Naeher has played for the Chicago Red Stars in the National Women’s Soccer League since 2016 and plans to continue her club career with Chicago next season.
As the U.S. squad prepares for matches against England at Wembley Stadium on Saturday and later against the Netherlands in The Hague on December 3, fans look forward to witnessing Naeher’s final appearances on the international stage.
Naeher’s impact extends beyond her stats; she has had memorable moments, including a critical penalty kick save against England in the semifinals of the 2019 Women’s World Cup. After staving off a penalty by Steph Houghton, the U.S. secured a 2-1 win before defeating the Netherlands in the final. Earlier this year, during the semifinals of the CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup, Naeher demonstrated her skill by making three saves in a penalty shootout against Canada, also successfully converting a penalty herself. Reflecting on her wins, she once said, “Winning is the best feeling.”
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