Alyssa Naeher retires from professional soccer after decade-long NWSL career with Chicago
Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher has announced her retirement from professional soccer, capping a career that included stints with Boston, Germany's Turbine Potsdam, and most notably Chicago, where she spent 11 seasons. According to the report, she retires as the club's all-time leader in regular-season appearances, starts, minutes played, saves, and clean sheets, finishing with 179 appearances, 558 saves, and 45 clean sheets for Chicago alone. Internationally, she retired from the USWNT in 2024 with 115 caps and is noted as the only goalkeeper to record shutouts in both a Women's World Cup final and an Olympic gold medal match. She was named the 2024 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year and The Best FIFA Women's Goalkeeper in 2024.
She left as the only goalkeeper to record a shutout in both a World Cup final and an Olympic gold medal match.
Why it matters
For coaches: Chicago Stars FC must now replace its longest-tenured player and captain as the club enters a new era under its recently appointed chief of soccer operations.
For athletes: Naeher's retirement marks the end of one of the most decorated goalkeeping careers in U.S. women's soccer history, offering a benchmark of longevity and achievement at the club and international levels.
Read the full story at CBS Sports
Sources
- CBS Sports · Sandra Herrera: USWNT icon Alyssa Naeher announces retirement from professional soccer after historic goalkeeping career