Women’s World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist Alyssa Naeher has officially extended her contract with the Chicago Stars through 2026.
The Stars revealed on Wednesday that the 37-year-old goalkeeper will return for her 10th season with the National Women’s Soccer League team.
Naeher concluded her tenure with the U.S. national team at the end of 2024, celebrating a gold medal victory at the Paris Olympics.
In a club statement, Naeher expressed, “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 one of only three players still active in the NWSL since the league’s inception in 2013, and she is the only goalkeeper among them. Prior to joining the Stars, she played for the Boston Breakers.
In August, she became just the third goalkeeper in NWSL history to score a goal, contributing to a 3-3 comeback draw against the Seattle Reign with a stunning goal in the dying moments of stoppage time.
She stands out as the first NWSL goalkeeper to achieve 60 career wins and 45 shutouts with a single team.
Stars general manager Richard Feuz praised Naeher’s impact, stating, “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.”
Naeher was honored as the U.S. Soccer Player of the Year and the FIFA Best Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year in 2024.
She made a crucial one-handed save in stoppage time to secure a 1-0 win for the Americans over Brazil during the Olympic final in Paris, achieving four shutouts throughout the tournament.
In 2024, Naeher allowed only 11 goals with the U.S. national team, finishing with an impressive 13-1-3 record. Over her career, she has played in 115 matches for the national team, recording 69 clean sheets.
Notably, she is the only U.S. goalkeeper to secure a shutout in both a World Cup and an Olympic final.