Profile

Alyssa
Naeher

FIRST CAP: Dec. 18, 2014 vs. Argentina (Brasilia, Brazil)
FIRST SHUTOUT: Dec. 18, 2014 vs. Argentina (Brasilia, Brazil)

After being consistently in the mix with the USWNT from 2014-2016, Naeher became the first choice starting goalkeeper for the USA in 2017 with her leadership, confidence, consistent and sometimes spectacular play along with her excellent distribution skills.
She now ranks third all-time in caps, wins and shutouts for a goalkeeper in U.S. history.
Was the starter in three of the USA’s biggest games of the year in 2022, the title game of the 2022 Concacaf W Championship, in which she earned a shutout to qualify the USA for both the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and 2024 Summer Olympics, the match against England at Wembley Stadium in front of more than 70,000 fans on Oct. 7, and the final game of the year, a 2-1 win over Germany on Nov. 13 in Harrison, New Jersey.
A two-time Olympian (2016, 2021), Naeher had a match for the ages against the Netherlands in the quarterfinal of the delayed Tokyo Olympics. She saved one penalty kick at the end of regulation and two in the shootout while making several crucial saves during regulation and overtime to lead the USA to victory.
In 2020, she was one of three finalists for The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year

A two-time Women’s World Cup champion, Naeher was a backup to Hope Solo during the USA’s run to the title in 2015.
In 2019, she played every minute of all seven matches in France – the only U.S. player to do so – and gave up only three goals while earning four shutouts, becoming the fifth goalkeeper in history to earn a shutout in a Women’s World Cup Final.
She came up huge when called upon during the World Cup, making several crucial saves in the knockout rounds, but the most memorable was her dramatic penalty kick stop in the Semifinal against England in the 84th minute to preserve the 2-1 victory.
Won the 2008 U-20 FIFA Women’s World Cup with the U.S. U-20 Women’s National Team, earning the Golden Glove as the tournament’s best goalkeeper.

An 11-year veteran of the NWSL, Naeher became the league’s all-time leader in both saves and appearances by a goalkeeper early in the 2023 regular season.
Played for the Boston Breakers from 2013-15 and won NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year honors in 2014 before joining the Chicago Red Stars in 2016.
Began her professional career with the Breakers in WPS and also played two seasons with Turbine Potsdam in the German Bundesliga, winning the 2011-12 Frauen-Bundesliga title.

Daughter of John and Donna Lynn Naeher
Has a twin sister, Amanda, who was a standout forward at Messiah College and one of the all-time leading scorers in NCAA Division III history, scoring well over 100 goals in her career.
Also has a younger sister, Abby, who – along with her husband Matt – welcomed their first child (Judah) on the night of the 2015 Women’s World Cup Final.
Majored in Kinesiology at Penn State, where she was a two-time All-American and an Academic All-Big Ten selection as a junior and senior in college.
Enjoys doing the crossword puzzle every morning with her coffee as well as biking and being outside during the Chicago summers.

Stories