Alyssa Naeher on USWNT Retirement, World Cup Pressure, Penalty Shootouts & Her First NWSL Goal
Description
Ali Riley talks with 2x World Cup Champion, Olympian, U.S. Soccer Player of the Year, and NWSL icon, Alyssa Naeher, fresh off getting iced at NWSL Championship weekend and her big retirement celebrations. Alyssa gets real about all the emotions, gratitude, and perspective that come with closing one chapter and stepping into whatever’s next.
The two dive into Alyssa’s 10-year career in Chicago, what the future might look like with the Red Stars, and how she checks in with her body and her mindset as she figures out next moves. Alyssa also gets into her excitement for Boston’s return to the NWSL and why the city is a blueprint for sports culture.
Later, they talk U.S. Women’s National Team journey, what it was really like taking over the starting goalkeeper role after Hope Solo, the pressure that came with it, and the trust from teammates that kept her locked in.
And don’t go anywhere, because Alyssa breaks down the strategy behind her legendary penalty shootout performances, and relieves the moment of scoring her first NWSL goal this year.
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Chapters
(0:00 ) – Intro
(1:48 ) - Alyssa Naeher joins the show
(3:25 ) - Getting iced by Ali
(7:33 ) - NWSL Championship weekend recap
(11:49 ) - Retirement celebrations
(15:53 ) - Playing pro without USWNT responsibilities
(20:07 ) - Future with Chicago Red Stars
(23:22 ) - 10-year career in Chicago
(25:54 ) - Boston Legacy FC loading
(27:15 ) - The Alyssa Naeh-ERA
(35:58 ) - Penalty shootout prep
(41:06 ) - GKU
(45:30 ) - Scoring her first NWSL goal
(49:28 ) - Gifting to twins
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