The United States Women’s National Team will now be searching for a new No. 1 goalkeeper after December 3rd.
Alyssa Naeher, who is currently in the U.K. in preparation for the USWNT’s upcoming matches against England on November 30th and then the Netherlands on December 3rd, will be retiring from the national team after these two matches.
The 36-year-old goalkeeper has been a long-time servant for the national team, earning 113 caps — the third most all-time for a goalkeeper behind USWNT legendary goalkeepers Hope Solo and Briana Scurry.
Naeher put out a statement via her official Instagram account:
“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.”
She ends her decorated national team career as a two-time World Cup champion and a two-time Olympic medal winner. She helped the U.S. win the Gold medal in 2024. The USWNT also won the Bronze in 2020 with Naeher on the roster.
Her heroics in the 2019 FIFA World Cup semi-final made history, as she made an incredible string of saves including an 83rd-minute penalty save to help the USA defeat England and ultimately win the World Cup after beating the Netherlands 2-0 in the final.
She started as a backup to Hope Solo, making her debut during the 2015 World Cup. She became the No. 1 starter in 2017, and the rest, as they say, is history.
