Alyssa Michele Naeher ( born April 20, 1988) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and is a former goalkeeper for the United States national team. She was part of the United States roster during the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup and was the starting goalkeeper for the winning U.S. teams at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup and the 2024 Paris Olympics, as well as the bronze-medal winning 2020 Tokyo Olympics team. She has also played for the Boston Breakers and Turbine Potsdam. She was named NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year while with the Breakers in 2014.

Early life

Naeher grew up in Connecticut and attended Christian Heritage School, where she was a standout player in soccer. She was a three-time All-State and three-time FAA All-Conference selection. In addition to this, she was a Parade All-American and two-time NSCAA Youth All-American. Naeher also was a star basketball player, scoring over 2,000 points during her career. Naeher played the 2006 USL W-League season with the Western Mass Lady Pioneers, making 11 appearances and only allowing a 0.59 goals against average.

Penn State University

Naeher attended Penn State from 2006 to 2009. She started 74 games during that span with a record of 50–19–5, including 24 shutouts. She was a First Team All-American in 2007 and 2008 and was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2007.

Club career

Boston Breakers (WPS), 2010–2011

Naeher was selected by the Boston Breakers with the 11th overall pick in the 2010 Women's Professional Soccer draft; she was the first goalkeeper selected in the 2010 WPS draft. Naeher recorded her first career shutout on August 4, 2010, against the Atlanta Beat. The Breakers finished second in the WPS standings that season but lost the Super Semifinal to the Philadelphia Independence.

Turbine Potsdam, 2011–2013

After the 2011 WPS season concluded, Naeher transferred to German Bundesliga club Turbine Potsdam. She appeared in 24 matches across all competitions in the 2011/2012 season for Potsdam as they won the 2011–12 Frauen-Bundesliga. Naeher returned to Potsdam for the 2012/2013 season after the 2012 WPS season was suspended.

Boston Breakers, 2013–2015

In May 2013, Naeher signed with the Boston Breakers in the newly formed National Women's Soccer League, returning to the United States after playing for two years in Germany. During the 2014 National Women's Soccer League season, Naeher played every minute for Boston and won the Goalkeeper of the Year award as she recorded a record 106 saves in 24 games. On November 22, 2015, Naeher was traded from the Boston Breakers to the Chicago Red Stars for defender Whitney Engen.

Chicago Red Stars, 2016–present

Naeher had a strong start to the 2016 NWSL season in Chicago; she was named Player of the Month for May, posting three shutouts and allowing just one goal in four games. She was one of three finalists for Goalkeeper of the Year. Naeher was again nominated for Goalkeeper of the Year in the 2017 season. Naeher was named Player of the Week in week 6 of the 2018 season by the NWSL Media Association; she was also named to the Team of the Month in June 2018. On August 18, 2018, Naeher earned her 100th NWSL cap in a 2–2 draw against the Portland Thorns FC. On March 23, 2024, Naeher made NWSL history by becoming the first goalkeeper with 50 wins for a single club when the Red Stars defeated Seattle Reign FC in a 2–1 victory.

International career

Naeher was a member of the United States U-20 national team that played at the 2007 Pan-American Games, where they finished as silver medalists, losing 5-0 in the final to the full Brazilian national team. In 2008, Naeher was the starting goalkeeper for the U-20 squad that won the 2008 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile. She started and played in all but one game during the tournament. She only conceded one goal throughout the World Cup, which was to North Korea during the final minutes of the championship game. She was awarded the Golden Glove Award as the best goalkeeper in the tournament. On December 18, 2014, Naeher made her first appearance and start for the United States Women's National Team in a 7–0 win over Argentina in the International Tournament of Brazil. She played the full 90 minutes and earned her first career shutout. Naeher was on the roster for the 2015 World Cup in Canada as a backup for Hope Solo but did not play, as Solo played every minute in goal as the United States won its third World Cup. In July 2016, Naeher was named to the USWNT roster for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, Brazil. Since the United States' loss at the 2016 Summer Olympics, Naeher has become the USWNT's number one goalkeeper, taking over the spot that had been held by Solo for years. Naeher was the primary goalkeeper for the United States at the 2018 CONCACAF Championship; she played in four of the five matches and earned four shutouts. The U.S won their second consecutive CONCACAF Championship with a 2–0 win over Canada.

2019 FIFA Women's World Cup

On May 2, 2019, Naeher was named to the United States roster for the 2019 World Cup; this was her second World Cup. Naeher entered the tournament as the U.S.'s number one goalkeeper. When Naeher started the team's first group game on June 11, it was the first time in over two decades that neither Hope Solo nor Briana Scurry was in goal for the U.S at a World Cup. Naeher recorded three consecutive shutouts in the group stage as the U.S won 13–0, over Thailand, 3–0 over Chile and 2–0 over Sweden. In the knockout round, Naeher made four saves against France in the quarterfinals to help the team preserve a 2–1 victory over the host nation. In the semifinals, Naeher had three saves and stopped Steph Houghton's penalty kick in the 83rd minute to help the United States to a 2–1 victory over England. In Sunday's final, Naeher posted one save to culminate in a shutout over the Netherlands in a 2–0 victory for the U.S., resulting in the team repeating as World Cup champions. Naeher played every minute of the USWNT's successful 2019 World Cup run.

2020 Summer Olympics

On June 23, 2021, Naeher was nominated for the 2020 Summer Olympics, which were postponed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Naeher brought her team into the semi-finals with three saved penalties in the quarter-finals against European champions Netherlands: a save in the 81st minute and two additional saves in the penalty shootout. She was in goal until the 30th minute of the semi-final against Canada and then had to be replaced by Adrianna Franch due to injury. Her team won the bronze medal.

2023 FIFA Women's World Cup

Naeher was named to the United States roster for the 2023 World Cup, her third World Cup. In the Round of 16 match against Sweden, Naeher saved one penalty kick and nearly saved Lina Hurtig's shot, but the ball crossed the goal line by millimeters and knocked the United States out of the World Cup. She was the first goalkeeper ever to take a penalty at a World Cup (women's or men's), and the first to both score from the penalty spot and save a penalty.

2024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup

On February 7, 2024, Naeher was named to the roster for the inaugural 2024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup. During the tournament, Naeher played 5 of the 6 matches and also earned her 100th national team cap during the quarter-final match against Colombia, where she kept a clean sheet in a 3–0 victory. Naeher became the third goalkeeper in the history of the USWNT team to make 100 appearances for the senior team, following Brianna Scurry and Hope Solo. Naeher was highly praised for her performance in the semi-final match against Canada, where she saved three penalty kicks and also converted one herself after the game went to a penalty shootout as a result of a 2–2 draw in regular and extra time. Naeher was named the best goalkeeper of the tournament and earned the Golden Glove award for her performances as the U.S. went on to win the inaugural Gold Cup, defeating Brazil 1–0.

2024 Summer Olympics

On June 26, 2024, Naeher was named to the United States roster for the 2024 Summer Olympics, her third Olympic tournament. She made seven saves to shut out Germany in the semi-finals, including a game-winning kick save in the last seconds of extra time. She made key saves against Brazil's Gabi Portilho and Adriana in the final, which the United States won 1–0 on a goal from Mallory Swanson. During the tournament, Naeher recorded four shutouts, passing Hope Solo for the most shutouts by any US Women’s National Team goalkeeper in a single Olympic games. On November 25, 2024, Naeher announced that she would retire from international play at the end of the year.

Personal life

Naeher is the daughter of John and Donna Lynn Naeher. She has a twin sister named Amanda, who played soccer for Messiah College, and a younger sister named Abigail. She is of German, English, and French Canadian ancestry. Naeher is a Christian.

In popular culture

Video games

Naeher was featured along with her USWNT teammates in the EA Sports' FIFA video game FIFA 16, the first time women players were included in the game.

Ticker tape parade and White House honor

Following the United States' win at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, Naeher and her teammates became the first women's sports team to be honored with a ticker tape parade in New York City. Each player received a key to the city from Mayor Bill de Blasio. In October of the same year, the team was honored by President Barack Obama at the White House.

Career statistics

Club

International

Honors

United States U20 United States Individual