USWNT Icon Alyssa Naeher Announces Retirement from Professional Soccer
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The decorated goalkeeper and Chicago Stars FC captain leaves a legacy as the only keeper to record shutouts in both a World Cup final and an Olympic gold medal match.
Alyssa Naeher, one of the most decorated goalkeepers in U.S. history, has announced her retirement from professional soccer, according to CBS Sports.
Naeher's international career concluded in 2024, leaving her as the only goalkeeper to achieve a shutout in both an Olympic gold medal match and a World Cup final. Naeher set a USWNT record with four clean sheets after starting every game at the 2024 Summer Games in Paris. Her late-game save against Brazil secured a 1-0 gold medal victory for the United States.
Over her international tenure, Naeher earned 115 caps, 112 starts, 89 wins, and 69 clean sheets, ranking third among all U.S. goalkeepers in those categories, CBS Sports reports. Her accolades include being named The Best FIFA Women's Goalkeeper in 2024 and the 2024 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year, making her only the second goalkeeper to receive the latter honor after Hope Solo.
At the club level, Naeher served as the captain and longest-tenured player for Chicago Stars FC. After being traded to Chicago in late 2015 from the Boston Breakers, she became the franchise leader in starts, minutes played, saves, clean sheets, and regular-season appearances. CBS Sports notes she finished her NWSL career with 223 starts in 224 regular-season appearances and 765 saves.
Naeher's professional journey included stints with the Boston Breakers in both Women's Professional Soccer and the NWSL, as well as time with Germany's Turbine Potsdam. In a statement cited by CBS Sports, Naeher said the decision to retire came after "a lot of prayer and reflection," noting that Chicago became her "home away from home."