Over the years the US Women’s National soccer team has had many accomplishments. Some of these include four Women’s World Cup titles, five Olympic gold medals, nine CONCACAF W Championship titles, and one CONCACAF W Gold Cup title. All of these titles wouldn’t be possible without the players chosen to play on the team.
To be able to play on the US team you have to be born in the country. There are Talent IDs held all over the United States, and specific players are chosen to come and essentially tryout with the team. The players have to be able to play at a high level. Most players chosen play for an NWSL team, which is like a club team. There are 14 NWSL teams scattered around the US.
Once a player reaches the highest level they have to retire at some point as they get older. In the past five years, six players have retired from playing professional soccer for the US. Those players include Alex Morgan, Julie Ertz, Kelly O’Hara, Megan Rapinoe, Carli Lloyd, and most recently Alyssa Naeher.
Alyssa Naeher was born in Bridgeport Connecticut on April 20, 1988. In college she was the goalkeeper for Penn State. She currently plays for the Chicago Red Stars, which is a NWSL team. She wears the number one on her jersey and she is a goalkeeper. Her last game with the USWNT was against the Netherlands on December third. The US won 2-1. They honored Naeher before and after the game. She was declared Michelob Ultra’s Women of the Match.
Over Naeher’s soccer career she has helped the team reach victory at all levels of the game. In 2006 she was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and second team All-Big Ten. During her sophomore year in 2007 she was named first team All-American, Soccer America MVP Second Team, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, and first Team All-Big Ten selection. In 2008 she was named First Team All-America and First Team All-Great Lakes Region, first team All-Big Ten, and Big Ten Tournament Defensive Team. During her last year as a lion she was named M.A.C. Hermann Trophy Watch List, Soccer America First Team All-American, and earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week. She was also the first player ever from Penn State as a World Cup Champion to lead her U.S. U-20 National Team through five straight wins and achieved the Cup.
Playing for the USWNT Naeher has had 113 appearances, 68 clean sheets, has won two Women’s World Cups, was a 2024 Olympic Gold Medalist, and a 2021 Olympic Bronze Medalist. Her first cap on the team was December 18, 2014 against Argentina. She also had her first shut out that game, which is a big accomplishment for it only being her first game. She was continually in the pool of players with the USWNT from 2014-2016. She was chosen as the starting keeper for the US in 2017. She ranks third all-time in caps, wins and shutouts for a keeper in all of the team’s history.
Alyssa Naeher has had a tremendous influence on women’s soccer. Kids around the world aspire to be able to achieve the things that she did. Her teammates valued her for her leadership and confidence. Naeher has retired as the USWNT’s “greatest goalkeeper” according to Head Coach of the USWNT, Emma Hayes said in an interview with ESPN. Her career isn’t quite over yet, she is still going to continue to play for her NWSL team.
