Longtime U.S. women’s soccer star announces her retirement

The United States women’s national soccer team is about to look different.

Veteran USWNT goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher announced on Monday that she is retiring from international competition. Naeher will play in a pair of U.S. international friendlies in the coming days (against England on Nov. 30 and against the Netherlands on Dec. 3) before officially calling it quits.

“Having the opportunity to be a part of the USWNT for the past 15 years has been the greatest honor,” Naeher said in a statement. “When I began this journey, I never could have imagined where it would take me, and now I find myself so grateful for all the incredible teammates that I have shared the field with; teammates that have turned into lifelong friends.

“To all my teammates, coaches and staff, thank you all for pushing me, supporting me, and making me a better person/player every single day,” she added. “A special thanks goes to my family. You have traveled all over the world and were in my corner every step of the way and I love you all.”

After previously starring for U.S. youth teams, Naeher, now 36 years old, debuted for the senior team back in 2014 and quickly climbed the ranks to become the USWNT’s No. 1 goalkeeper. Naeher displaced Hope Solo for the position after the 2016 Rio Olympics and went on to enjoy a very strong run in international play. She was the one in goal for the USWNT during their victories in the 2019 Women’s World Cup as well as during the 2024 Paris Olympics. Naeher also helped the USWNT win bronze in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and went viral for plenty of incredible saves over the years.

With Naeher now retiring, Casey Murphy and Phallon Tullis-Joyce, both 28 years old, will be among the options to succeed her as the USWNT’s No. 1 keeper. Naeher will also still be sticking around at the club level, where she currently plays for the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).