After winning a gold medal in the 2024 Olympics and announcing her international retirement, Alyssa Naeher capped off the storybook ending of her international career by being honored as the U.S. Female Soccer Player of the Year.
"This is an incredible honor, to cap off what has been a very special year with this team," Naeher said.
Naeher is only the second goalkeeper to win the award since 1985 (the other being Hope Solo). She was also voted the Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year for 2024 and was selected to FIFA Best Women’s 11. In 2024 she also became the third U.S. goalkeeper to hit 100 caps.
"This team is made up of a special group of players, coaches and staff and all year you could feel that energy and that we had the opportunity to achieve something great. I was inspired all year long by my incredible teammates; the work we put in, the commitment to the team and our goals, and all of their love and support."
Naeher is recognized as one of the greatest goalkeepers for the USWNT. She became the first goalkeeper in women's soccer history to keep clean sheets in both a World Cup final and an Olympic final. She ended 2024 with 18 starts, 1,170 minutes played, a 13W-1L-3D record, and a 0.50 GAA while allowing just 11 goals.
Naeher announced her retirement last November but she will continue her professional club career with the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women’s Soccer Leagye (NWSL) in the upcoming season.