Alyssa Naeher Bids Farewell to USWNT with a Thrilling Win Over the Netherlands
It was a night to remember for Alyssa Naeher, the legendary goalkeeper who capped off her illustrious U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) career with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Netherlands. The match, held on Tuesday, marked the end of an era for the 36-year-old, who leaves behind a legacy that will be hard to match. U.S. coach Emma Hayes didn’t hold back in her praise, calling Naeher “the greatest goalkeeper this country’s ever had.”
“What I did say to her yesterday, in my opinion, she’s the greatest goalkeeper this country’s ever had, for lots of reasons,” Hayes said after the game. “Most people don’t really realize what it takes to stay at the top. For her to do it, for the number of years she’s done it, wow.”
Naeher, who announced last week that the winter friendlies against England and the Netherlands would be her final appearances for the national team, delivered a performance that underscored her greatness. She made six crucial saves in her farewell match, ensuring the USWNT ended their 2024 season on a high note. While her international career has come to a close, Naeher will continue playing at the club level for the Chicago Red Stars.
“I’ll Miss the People”: Naeher Reflects on Her Career
After the match, Naeher opened up about what she’ll miss most about playing for the USWNT. “I’m going to miss the coffee dates, hanging around the team room, talking. I’m going to miss the competition, playing at the highest level,” she told ESPN. “Obviously, I’m not done done, I’m still playing NWSL. But to have played internationals and World Cups is something I’ll miss, but I’ll miss the people.”
Her teammates were equally emotional about her departure. Defender Emily Fox praised Naeher’s contributions to the team, highlighting her incredible achievements, which include two World Cup titles and an Olympic gold medal. Naeher is also the only goalkeeper in history to record shutouts in both a World Cup and Olympic gold medal final.
“Big shout to her, we’re going to miss her so much,” Fox said. “We’re happy we managed to win. I think the first half was rough, but we re-organized, got control of it.”
A Game of Grit and Determination
The USWNT’s victory over the Netherlands wasn’t without its challenges. The team struggled in the first half, getting outshot 14 to 1. An own-goal from the Netherlands just before halftime gave the Americans a lifeline, and they capitalized on it with a game-winning goal from Lynn Williams in the 71st minute.
Hayes didn’t mince words when discussing the team’s performance. “If we’re not going to be our best with the ball, we better be our best without it, and I thought we got bullied and harassed… the Dutch should have been up 2-0 in the first half,” she said. “We’re not sitting here saying we were the better team. You can still win football matches and not be at your best.”
Despite the struggles, Hayes saw the victory as a testament to the team’s resilience. “I thought today we demonstrated, by not being at our best both in and out of possession, but finding a way to win, is a sign of a great team,” she added.
Williams and the Team Reflect on the Win
Williams, who scored the decisive goal, acknowledged that the match wasn’t the USWNT’s finest performance. “I wouldn’t say that this was our prettiest game of soccer ever, and sometimes that’s how games go,” the Gotham FC forward said. “The biggest thing was matching their intensity, getting to the second ball, getting to the first ball.”
With the win, the USWNT closed out the year on a high note, extending their undefeated streak to 20 games. The streak includes a Gold Cup title, the SheBelieves Cup, and an Olympic gold medal. Hayes, who has yet to lose as U.S. coach, will look to continue this momentum in the 2025 SheBelieves Cup tournament, where the Americans will face Colombia, Australia, and Japan in February.
Key Takeaways from Naeher’s Final Match
- Alyssa Naeher made six saves in her final USWNT match, helping secure a 2-1 win over the Netherlands.
- She retires as the only goalkeeper with shutouts in both a World Cup and Olympic gold medal final.
- The USWNT extended their undefeated streak to 20 games, capping off a successful 2024 season.
- Coach Emma Hayes praised Naeher as “the greatest goalkeeper this country’s ever had.”
As the USWNT looks ahead to the 2025 SheBelieves Cup, they’ll do so without one of their most iconic players. But if Tuesday’s match proved anything, it’s that Alyssa Naeher’s legacy will continue to inspire the team for years to come.
Originally Written by: Tom Hamilton
