Alyssa Naeher Reflects on USWNT Retirement: “At Peace” but Emotional
For Alyssa Naeher, the decision to retire from international soccer wasn’t one she took lightly. The United States women’s national team (USWNT) goalkeeper, who has been a cornerstone of the squad for years, recently announced that she will step away from international play after the upcoming friendlies against England at Wembley Stadium on Nov. 3 and the Netherlands in The Hague on Nov. 6. While she will continue her club career with the Chicago Red Stars, her time with the USWNT is coming to a close. And for Naeher, that realization is bittersweet.
“Yeah, I was nervous,” Naeher admitted when discussing her conversation with USWNT manager Emma Hayes about her decision. “As much as I am at peace with the decision—I know that in my head it’s the right time and I feel good about it—it’s still the end of something. And change is scary.”
It’s not every day that a player of Naeher’s caliber steps away from the international stage. With a World Cup winner’s medal and an Olympic gold medal in her trophy case, Naeher has achieved everything she set out to accomplish. But the physical and mental toll of competing at the highest level has led her to this moment.
A Conversation That Made It Real
Before going public with her decision, Naeher wanted to ensure she had Hayes’ blessing. “It was important for me to have understood where she was at and to just have that conversation before anything got fully decided on,” Naeher explained. “And she was great. She was very supportive. She was very thankful for different contributions to the team over the years and this past year, but it was a good conversation.”
For Naeher, the conversation with Hayes marked a turning point. “I’m going to miss being a part of these camps and this team,” she said. “To have that conversation made it very real.”
Why Now? Timing Is Everything
At 35 years old, Naeher has been a mainstay for the USWNT since taking over from Hope Solo in 2017. But as she looked ahead to the next World Cup cycle, she realized she would be 39 by the time it concluded. That, combined with the grueling demands of international soccer, made her decision clear.
“I feel very fulfilled with what we’ve been able to do, and it takes a lot out of you,” Naeher said. “Honestly, I think I’ve been somebody that has been… I’ve given everything I’ve had to this team, and I don’t do anything halfway. It’s kind of, if you can give 100% to it, then keep going. And with that in mind, I kind of just felt like this was the right time.”
She added, “Coming off of the Olympics, having a year that we had, entering into a new cycle, a new stage for this team, it just felt like [I had] kind of given everything I have to give to this team, and it just felt like the right time.”
Filling Big Shoes
When Naeher stepped into the starting goalkeeper role, she followed in the footsteps of legends like Hope Solo and Briana Scurry. But rather than try to emulate them, Naeher focused on being herself. “I just tried to be myself,” she said. “Obviously, a tremendous amount of respect for Hope and the career that she had and what she did for the sport and obviously [Briana] Scurry before her. And with that, I was never into comparing.”
Instead, Naeher concentrated on how she could contribute to the team. “My focus was more on how I can continue to improve and be the best goalkeeper and best teammate that I could be every single day and keep learning,” she said.
The Next Generation
As Naeher steps away, the USWNT will look to a new crop of goalkeepers to fill the void. The current roster includes Mandy Haught of the Utah Royals, Phallon Tullis-Joyce of Manchester United, Casey Murphy of the North Carolina Courage, Jane Campbell of the Houston Dash, and Aubrey Kingsbury of the Washington Spirit.
- Mandy Haught – Utah Royals
- Phallon Tullis-Joyce – Manchester United
- Casey Murphy – North Carolina Courage
- Jane Campbell – Houston Dash
- Aubrey Kingsbury – Washington Spirit
“I’m excited about the crop of goalkeepers that we have coming up,” Naeher said. “I think what I’ve tried to at least show and instill in the future generations is just the power of preparation, the mindset going into training, the preparedness of what it looks like to be able to play at this level.”
As Naeher prepares to close this chapter of her career, her legacy will undoubtedly inspire the next generation of USWNT goalkeepers. And while her presence will be missed, her contributions to the team will not be forgotten.
Originally Written by: Tom Hamilton
