It’s official. After years of exhibiting greatness on the pitch, Alyssa Naeher has finally decided that she won’t be donning her US Women’s National Team anymore. Though the call was made a couple of hours ago, a surprise revelation of a ‘running joke‘ to her former USA teammate Sam Mewis suggests the actual timeline of when she decided to call it quits.

This conversation took place in the Mewis-hosted The Women’s Game podcast. When asked the first time the thought of not wearing the red, blue, and white colors crossed her mind, Naeher said, “I mean, if you ask any of my friends, the running joke has been I’ve been saying I’m going to do this for four years.”

“But If I’m being honest, I think I kind of came into this year with that feeling of, ‘I feel like it was going to be the last one, which I think also kind of let me be at peace and very, like almost a little bit more free. It just feels like the right time.” Of course, it’s not like one suddenly decides to stop playing; a lot of thinking and reevaluation is poured into this decision, and Naeher also did the same before eventually giving this tough news to her fans.

The 36-year-old thought there couldn’t have been a better time to announce this decision, especially with the year she had on the international as well as individual front. Having won the gold medal with Emma Hayes’ USWNT in the recent 2024 Paris Olympics. Her emphatic saves throughout the Summer Games campaign saw her bag nominations in the Ballon d’Or Feminin as well, where she made a 17th-place finish. 

“It feels like we’ve had such an incredible year. I’ve done everything individually that I could have ever dreamed of accomplishing and more with this team. I just feel like there is a little bit of a moment of clarity,” she added.

Many are still in a moment of shock, as given how Naeher had been playing this year, it felt like she could make her way for a few more years. Then again, this had to come eventually, as Alyssa would finally get to reminisce about her memories.

Alyssa Naeher knew it was the right ‘time to pass the baton’ following USWNT retirement 

Having been a part of the team since 2014, Alyssa Naeher is among the veterans to have witnessed the emphatic metamorphosis of the USWNT, something to which she remains eternally grateful. “I was so proud and happy to be a part of this last year, the transition from that older generation into this new school and I loved being a part of that.”

“Now I just feel it’s time to pass the baton, move on, just be grateful for the memories and the career and everything we’ve been able to accomplish as a team,” she concluded, emphasizing that continuing as part of the USWNT, which is already looking forward to the 2027 World Cup and the 2028 Olympics, wouldn’t have been viable.

From making her debut on December 18, 2014, in a 7-0 win over Argentina in Brazil, to securing two World Cups, an Olympic gold and bronze medal inclusive of countless memories, Alyssa Naeher finally signed off as a legend.