Alyssa Naeher, the goalkeeper who has anchored Chicago Stars FC’s defense and captained the club for more than a decade, announced her retirement from professional soccer after a 17-year career. The announcement closes the book on a run that included two World Cup titles, Olympic gold, and a string of NWSL records few goalkeepers will ever approach.
Eleven Seasons, One City
Naeher spent 11 seasons with Chicago after she was acquired from the Boston Breakers in November 2015 ahead of the 2016 campaign, according to Chicago Stars FC. In that time she became the first goalkeeper to record 45 regular-season clean sheets for a single NWSL club, the team said, part of a resume that also includes becoming the league’s all-time saves leader. Before landing in Chicago, Naeher played overseas for Germany’s Turbine Potsdam, where she won the 2011-12 Frauen-Bundesliga title, per the same team announcement.
Her club milestones piled up over the years. Naeher broke the NWSL career saves record on May 27, 2023, with her 519th regular-season save, moving past former USWNT teammate Ashlyn Harris, the Stars noted. She also became the league’s all-time leader in both saves and appearances by a goalkeeper early in that same season, according to U.S. Soccer.
A Decorated International Career
Naeher closed out her U.S. women’s national team career in December 2024 with 115 caps, 112 starts, 89 wins and 69 clean sheets, the Stars’ retirement announcement states. Along the way she won two FIFA Women’s World Cup titles, in 2015 and 2019, and Olympic gold at the Paris 2024 Games. In 2024, she also became the first NWSL goalkeeper nominated for the Ballon d’Or, as reported by Yahoo Sports.
Explaining her decision, Naeher said that after a lot of prayer and reflection, she felt it was the right time, according to Equalizer Soccer. As The Athletic reported, Naeher said she gave everything to soccer and would remember the experiences from her 17-year professional career.
A Difficult Final Chapter in Chicago
Naeher’s last season on the field was not an easy one for her club. She returned for six of the Chicago Stars’ final eight matches of the 2026 season after spending three months out of the squad, Yahoo Sports reported in an article originally published by The Athletic, and the team finished at the bottom of the NWSL standings for a second season in a row.
Her departure also marks the end of an era for the league itself. Naeher was one of three active players during the 2026 NWSL season who had remained in the league since its inaugural 2013 campaign, alongside Jess Fishlock and Sydney Leroux, per the same account. Fishlock also announced her retirement following the recent campaign, leaving Leroux as one of the league’s last remaining links to its founding season.
