Photo Credit: Jessica Alcheh-USA TODAY Sports
New Zealand international and Angel City defender Ali Riley announced she will retire from international and league play at the end of the 2025 National Women’s Soccer League season.
The Football Ferns’ captain’s career spans nearly two decades, five World Cups (2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023), and four Olympics, as well as numerous leagues across the globe.
Riley has made no regular-season appearances in 2025, as she has been dealing with a chronic nerve injury that has sidelined her since the start of the Paris Olympics in July 2024, causing her to withdraw from the Olympic squad. She was able to return to the training pitch in August.
“I want to thank my family, friends, the teams that I have played for, the teammates I have played with, and the fans who have rooted for me here at home and all over the world,” Riley said in her announcement. “I am leaving with my head held so high and feeling so much support and love. This chapter may be closing, but I know there is so much more to come.”
In college, Riley was a star for the Stanford Cardinal, leading her team to two NCAA semifinals and one final from 2006 to 2009. During that time, she also debuted for the New Zealand women’s national team in 2007 and quickly established herself as a crucial member, eventually earning 163 international caps, the second most in team history. She holds the New Zealand record for most appearances in major tournaments.
Riley’s professional career began with FC Gold Pride in the WPS in 2010. She won a championship and Rookie of the Year with the Pride. In 2011, she joined Western New York Flash and won another championship.
From there, Riley went to Sweden, where she won multiple league titles with FC Rosengård from 2012 to 2018. She spent one season each with England’s Chelsea FC (2018-2019) and Germany’s Bayern Munich (2019-2020) before returning to the NWSL.
She returned to the United States to play with the Orlando Pride in 2020 (though she did not play that year due to the Pride’s removal from the inaugural Challenge Cup), and again in 2021.
When Angel City joined the NWSL as an expansion team, they acquired Riley in a trade, allowing her to play in her hometown for the first time in her career. From there, she was named team captain and has held the title to this day.
“Ali Riley is Angel City. Her heart, grit, and unwavering commitment to lifting everyone around her have shaped the culture of this club,” said ACFC CEO and Co-Founder Julie Uhrman in a release. “Her impact on our team, our city, the global game, and on me personally is immeasurable. Ali has shown us that leadership goes far beyond the pitch; it’s in how you care for others, how you show up, and how you lead every single day. Her love of the game, for Angel City, and for the community is undeniable. And while she may no longer be on the pitch, she will never be far from Angel City. We all need more Ali Rileys in our lives.”
