1. Alyssa Michele Naeher is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Chicago Stars FC of the National Women's Soccer League.
46 Facts About Alyssa Naeher
1. 2.
Alyssa Naeher began her professional career with the Boston Breakers in Women's Professional Soccer in 2010, but when the league folded, she went to Turbine Potsdam in Germany.
3.
Alyssa Naeher returned to the Boston Breakers when the NWSL formed and was named NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year in 2014.
4.
Alyssa Naeher has been the starting goalkeeper for Chicago since 2016.
5.
Alyssa Naeher made 115 appearances for the United States national team between 2014 and 2024.
6.
Alyssa Naeher was the starting goalkeeper for the winning squads at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup and the 2024 Paris Olympics and played at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, taking home the bronze medal, and the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.
7.
Alyssa Naeher was Hope Solo's backup at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, which the United States won, and the 2016 Rio Olympics.
8.
Alyssa Naeher grew up in Connecticut and attended Christian Heritage School, where she was a standout player in soccer.
9.
Alyssa Naeher was a three-time All-State and three-time FAA All-Conference selection.
10.
Alyssa Naeher was a star basketball player, scoring over 2,000 points during her career.
11.
Alyssa 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.
12.
Alyssa Naeher was a first-team All-American in 2007 and 2008 and was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2007.
13.
Alyssa 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.
14.
Alyssa Naeher recorded her first career shutout on August 4,2010, against the Atlanta Beat.
15.
In May 2013, Alyssa 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.
16.
On November 22,2015, Alyssa Naeher was traded from the Boston Breakers to the Chicago Red Stars for defender Whitney Engen.
17.
Alyssa 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.
18.
Alyssa Naeher was one of three finalists for Goalkeeper of the Year.
19.
Alyssa Naeher was again nominated for Goalkeeper of the Year in the 2017 season.
20.
Alyssa Naeher was named Player of the Week in week 6 of the 2018 season by the NWSL Media Association; she was named to the Team of the Month in June 2018.
21.
In 2008, Alyssa Naeher was the starting goalkeeper for the U-20 squad that won the 2008 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile.
22.
Alyssa Naeher started and played in all but one game during the tournament.
23.
Alyssa Naeher only conceded one goal throughout the World Cup, which was to North Korea during the final minutes of the championship game.
24.
Alyssa Naeher was awarded the Golden Glove Award as the best goalkeeper in the tournament.
25.
Alyssa Naeher played the full 90 minutes and earned her first career shutout.
26.
Alyssa 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.
27.
In July 2016, Alyssa Naeher was named to the USWNT roster for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, Brazil.
28.
Since the United States' loss at the 2016 Summer Olympics, Alyssa Naeher has become the USWNT's number one goalkeeper, taking over the spot that had been held by Solo for years.
29.
Alyssa 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.
30.
On May 2,2019, Alyssa Naeher was named to the United States roster for the 2019 World Cup; this was her second World Cup.
31.
Alyssa Naeher entered the tournament as the US's number one goalkeeper.
32.
Alyssa Naeher played every minute of the USWNT's successful 2019 World Cup run.
33.
On June 23,2021, Alyssa Naeher was nominated for the 2020 Summer Olympics, which were postponed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
34.
Alyssa 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.
35.
Alyssa Naeher 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.
36.
Alyssa Naeher was named to the United States roster for the 2023 World Cup, her third World Cup.
37.
Alyssa Naeher was the first goalkeeper ever to take a penalty at a World Cup, and the first to both score from the penalty spot and save a penalty.
38.
On February 7,2024, Alyssa Naeher was named to the roster for the inaugural 2024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup.
39.
Alyssa 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.
40.
On June 26,2024, Alyssa Naeher was named to the United States roster for the 2024 Summer Olympics, her third Olympic tournament.
41.
Alyssa Naeher made seven saves to shut out Germany in the semi-finals, including a game-winning kick save in the last seconds of extra time.
42.
On November 25,2024, Alyssa Naeher announced that she would retire from international play at the end of the year.
43.
Alyssa Naeher is the daughter of John and Donna Lynn Alyssa Naeher.
44.
Alyssa Naeher has a twin sister named Amanda, who played soccer for Messiah College, and a younger sister named Abigail.
45.
Alyssa Naeher is of German, English, and French Canadian ancestry.
46.
Alyssa 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.