Alyssa Naeher has been recognized as the 2024 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year, according to an announcement from the national governing body of the sport on Saturday. This accolade makes her only the second goalkeeper ever to win this title in the last 40 years, following Hope Solo’s win in 2009.
During the recent Olympic Games in Paris, Naeher was instrumental in leading the United States to its fifth gold medal. She played every match throughout the tournament and conceded only two goals, culminating in a 1-0 victory over Brazil in the final. This remarkable achievement also made her the first female goalkeeper to maintain clean sheets in both a World Cup Final and an Olympic Final.
Reflecting on this honor, Naeher expressed her gratitude, highlighting how special the year had been with her teammates, coaches, and staff. However, the recognition comes with mixed feelings, as she has announced her retirement from international soccer as of November, although she intends to continue her club commitments with the Chicago Stars in the NWSL for the 2025 season. The award is determined by a collective vote from fans, coaches, players, U.S. Soccer Board of Directors, and select media figures.
5 Comments
Donatello
Impressive stats, but we've seen goalkeepers do this before without receiving the same praise.
Leonardo
Naeher might have helped win the gold, but the team effort shouldn't overshadow other players' contributions.
Michelangelo
Alyssa's leadership on the field has been unmatched – totally deserving of this recognition!
Raphael
Her numbers are good, but how often did she face real threats? This award seems inflated.
Donatello
Thank you, Alyssa, for being such a stellar player and role model on and off the field!