Chicago Stars FC and former United States women’s national team goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher announced her retirement from professional soccer on Friday, ending a 16-year career that included two World Cup titles and an Olympic gold medal.
Naeher had previously retired from international duty after leading the U.S. to the 2024 Olympic gold medal, but she continued playing in the NWSL with Chicago in 2025 and 2026.
“The decision to retire is never an easy one, but after a lot of prayer and reflection, I feel like it is the right time,” Naeher said in a statement.
“When I got traded from Boston to Chicago at the end of 2015, I felt like my world got turned upside down, but Chicago very quickly became my home away from home.
“I feel incredibly blessed to have shared the field with so many amazing teammates over the last 11 years, and have created a lifetime of memories on and off the field that I will always cherish. I want to thank the coaches and the organization for their support and belief in me. Captaining this team has been a great honor of my career, and shoutout to the fans for their continued support of me and the team.”
Naeher, 38, was one of three players remaining on NWSL rosters this year who had been in the league since the day it launched in 2013.
Jess Fishlock, one of the others, also announced her retirement.
Angel City’s Sydney Leroux also remains active after entering the league in 2013.
Naeher is the NWSL’s leader in career saves and goalkeeper appearances.
“There are no words to truly encapsulate what Alyssa has meant to the Chicago Stars,” club president Karen Leetzow said in a statement.
“She has lived through the greatest achievements and most trying moments in our history, and she has never wavered as a leader. Chicago has been fortunate to enjoy the greatest goalkeeper of all time in its backyard, while also sharing the joys of her journey on the game’s biggest stages.
“She is any teammate’s greatest advocate, on and off the pitch, and her partnership has been a gift to me personally in my role at the club. We wish Alyssa all the best, and we’re eternally grateful for all she’s done for the women’s game.”
Naeher first played for the now defunct Boston Breakers, winning the NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year award in 2014 for a then-league record 106 saves that season.
Naeher was traded to Chicago (then the “Red Stars”) after the 2015 season in a deal that sent former USWNT teammate and defender Whitney Engen to Boston. Naeher had played for the previous iteration of the Boston Breakers in Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS), the league that preceded the NWSL and that folded in early 2012.
She played for Turbine Potsdam in Germany after WPS folded, helping the team win the 2011-12 Bundesliga title.
Naeher did not win an NWSL Championship. She was with Chicago for runners-up finishes in 2019 and 2021.
Internationally, Naeher was a reserve on the USWNT’s 2015 World Cup-winning team before winning a second World Cup title as the starting goalkeeper in 2019.
She was also the team’s starter at the 2023 World Cup and the 2024 Olympics, as well as the team’s bronze medal win in the 2021 Olympics.
Her 2024 performance earned her the Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper award that year.
Naeher was a standout from an early age, winning the best goalkeeper award at the 2008 U20 World Cup that the United States won.
