Alyssa Naeher

Alyssa Naeher is recognized for her achievements as a goalkeeper in women's soccer. During her collegiate career at Penn State, Naeher compiled a .820 save percentage across 74 career starts and earned honors including Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, first-team All-Big Ten, and All-American in consecutive seasons. She began her professional career with the Boston Breakers and played two seasons with Turbine Potsdam in the German Bundesliga, where she won the Frauen-Bundesliga title. Her experience living and playing in Germany contributed to her development both on and off the field.

Naeher's career with the United States Women's National Team (USWNT) includes two World Cup titles and two Olympic medals. She served as the starting goalkeeper at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, starting five of six matches, allowing just one goal, and earning the Golden Glove as the tournament's top goalkeeper. In the World Cup in France, Naeher played every minute of all seven matches, conceding three goals and recording four shutouts. She made several key saves in the knockout rounds, including a penalty kick stop in the semifinal against England, marking the first penalty save by a U.S. goalkeeper in regulation at the Women's World Cup.

Naeher played every minute of the Olympics, allowed two goals, and made decisive saves in all knockout round games, contributing to the team's gold medal. Her kick-save in overtime of the Olympic semifinal against Germany is considered a significant moment in U.S. soccer history. In the gold medal final against Brazil, she became the only goalkeeper in women's football history to earn a clean sheet in both an Olympic and a World Cup final. As an NWSL veteran, Naeher became the league's all-time leader in saves and appearances by a goalkeeper. She ranks third all-time in goalkeeper caps, starts, wins, and shutouts in USWNT history.

Following her season, Naeher was named U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year, becoming only the second goalkeeper to receive the award. She was also recognized as The Best FIFA Women's Goalkeeper of the Year and was selected to The Best FIFA Women's 11. Naeher was nominated for the Ballon d'Or award. She retired from international play and continues her career with Chicago Stars FC in the NWSL. Off the field, Naeher serves as a public voice for women's soccer, sharing her experiences as a goalkeeper for Olympic and World Cup-winning U.S. teams and speaking at events such as those at Southern Connecticut State University. Her career continues to influence aspiring goalkeepers and athletes in the sport.