Alyssa Naeher announces retirement from USWNT

As the United States Women’s National Team gathered in London ahead of two European friendlies, we learned that one of those players is saying goodbye to international soccer. Yesterday, goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher announced that she will retire from international soccer and the USWNT at the conclusion of this camp.

Her final matches she is available for will be against England on Saturday and against the Netherlands on December 3rd. It caps an incredible 11-year international career with the USWNT that included 2 Women’s World Cup titles, an Olympic gold and bronze medal, 2 Concacaf W Championships, a Concacaf W Gold Cup title, and 7 SheBelieves Cup titles.

She hit the scene in 2008, helping the USWNT U-20s to the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup title. She received the Golden Glove as the best goalkeeper in that tournament. She received her first senior USWNT cap on December 18, 2014 in a 7-0 victory over Argentina. She has an all-time record of 88W-6L-14D with a goals against average of 0.50, one of the best ever.

“Having the opportunity to be a part of the USWNT for the past 15 years has been the greatest honor,” said Naeher in a statement she released on Instagram. “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. 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.”

“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. I know one chapter is ending, but I am so excited to continue to see the growth of this team going forward and what more they can accomplish.”

Naeher had some epic moments in her time as a starter, including a penalty save against England in the semifinals of the 2019 Women’s World Cup that helped them advance to the final, where she would keep a clean sheet against the Netherlands to win the team’s 4th Women’s World Cup. She also helped the team to the 2024 Olympic gold medal, becoming the first goalkeeper – man or woman – to have a clean sheet in both a World Cup final and an Olympic final.

She not only stopped penalties, she made them as well. Against Canada in the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup semifinals, she stopped three penalties in the shootout while making 1 of her own to help the USWNT to victory. She did it again a month later in the final of the 2024 SheBelieves Cup, once again stopping 3 Canada penalties and making one of her own to help the USWNT win.

Alyssa Naeher provided unexpected stability between the goalposts for the USWNT for a long time, coming into the starting spot after Hope Solo left the USWNT and calmly dominating for almost a decade. She fittingly is known for being quiet and not wanting the spectacle, so it’s fitting that Naeher will play her finals matches for the national team on the road. But the legacy she leaves is one the world won’t soon forget.