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After a career that lasted more than two decades, Alyssa Naeher decided to slide on the gloves for one more season. The veteran goalkeeper announced on Wednesday that she re-signed with the Chicago Stars for an 11th season.
Her deal is a one-year contract, through the 2026 National Women’s Soccer League season.
“I’m excited to be returning for my 11th season with Chicago,” Naeher said, via a press release. “I feel like I still have more to give and want to be out there competing with my teammates and continue to push this organization forward. We made a lot of positive strides to close out last season and I want to build on that.”
Naeher is all the all-time leader in wins, recording 73 victories. She is second in league history in shutouts, with 50 — just shy of Nicole Barnhart’s record of 52 shutouts. Naeher is the only goalkeeper to appear in every NWSL season.
A two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup winner and two-time Olympic medalist, Naeher began her professional career with the Boston Breakers in 2010, after a collegiate career at Penn State University. After two years in Boston, Naeher spent two seasons in Germany, featuring for Turbine Potsdam.
She returned to the United States in 2013, helping kick off the National Women’s Soccer League with the Boston Breakers. In 2014, she was named to the NWSL Best XI and named the league’s Goalkeeper of the Year.
After three years in her native New England, Naeher’s career took her to the Chicago Red Stars in 2016, where she started all 165 of her regular-season appearances. In 2016, she was named to the NWSL’s Second Best XI.
“The Chicago Stars and I are very happy to welcome Alyssa back for her 11th season with the club. Alyssa has had an immeasurably important impact on the Stars and our fans, and we look forward to her continuing to lead and set the standard for what it means to be a Chicago Star both on and off the pitch,” Chicago Stars general manager Richard Feuz said.
Naeher announced her retirement from the U.S. women’s national team in November 2024, playing her final game in December. She finished her international career with 113 appearances and 68 clean sheets. In addition to her World Cup titles and Olympic medals (one gold, one bronze), she also led the U.S. to two Concacaf Women’s Championship titles, one Concacaf W Gold Cup trophy and seven SheBelieves Cup victories.
She was named The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper in 2024, and to the The Best XI in 2024. That same year, she was also named the U.S. Soccer Player of the Year. When she announced her U.S. retirement, Naeher said that representing the U.S. was the “greatest honor.”
“When I began this journey, I never could have imagined where it would take me, and now I find myself so grateful for all the incredible teammates that I have shared the field with; teammates that have turned into lifelong friends,” Naeher said. To all my teammates, coaches and staff, thank you all for pushing me, supporting me, and making me a better person/player every single day. A special thanks goes to my family. You have traveled all over the world and were in my corner every step of the way and I love you all.
“This has been a special team to be a part of and I am beyond proud of what we have achieved both on and off the field. The memories I have made over the years will last me a lifetime. I know one chapter is ending, but I am so excited to continue to see the growth of this team going forward and what more they can accomplish.”
