Alyssa Naeher Announces Retirement After 17-Year Pro Soccer Career
Alyssa Naeher is retiring from professional soccer after an illustrious 17-season career. The renowned goalkeeper for the United States women’s national team and the Chicago Stars made her announcement on Friday.
In a heartfelt message shared on Instagram, Naeher reflected on her two-decade journey, stating, “It’s hard to put the last 17 years into words. I’ve given everything I have to this game, and it’s given me memories and experiences that I will never forget. God has blessed me with a career far beyond anything I could have dreamed of; I am truly grateful for the game and for the lifelong friends it brought into my life and abundance of memories.”
At 38 years old, Naeher began her professional career during a challenging period for women’s soccer in the U.S. She was one of the few players who participated in the inaugural season of the NWSL in 2013. After playing for the Boston Breakers for the first two years, she joined the Stars (formerly the Chicago Red Stars) prior to the 2016 season.
During her 11 seasons with the Stars, Naeher made 203 appearances and served as team captain. Under her leadership, the team reached the NWSL playoffs as runners-up in 2019 and 2021. Last season, she distinguished herself by becoming one of the rare NWSL keepers to score a goal.
Reflecting on her retirement decision, she stated, “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,” in a team announcement. She remarked on her transition to the Stars, saying, “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… Captaining this team has been a great honor of my career.”
Naeher concluded her international playing career in November 2024 after contributing to the U.S. Women’s National Team’s gold medal victory at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Having served as the team’s primary goalkeeper for six years, she left with accolades that include two World Cup titles and two Olympic medals. Her performances in critical matches and penalty situations have established her as one of the finest goalkeepers in U.S. soccer history.
In a fittingly low-key manner, Naeher announced her retirement following the conclusion of the NWSL regular season, leaving fans without the opportunity to celebrate her before her last appearance. Although she shared goalkeeping responsibilities with teammate Katie Atkinson throughout the season, Naeher played in the Stars’ concluding regular-season match, a 2-0 loss to the Washington Spirit on NWSL Decision Day.
The Stars have struggled to find success in recent years, finishing last in the standings for the 2026 season, as Naeher and Atkinson conceded 71 goals over the course of the campaign.
