Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher signed a one-year contract to return to the Chicago Stars FC for an 11th season in 2026.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
“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,” Naeher, 37, said. “We made a lot of positive strides to close out last season and I want to build on that.”
Naeher is best known for her career with the United States women’s national team. A two-time Women’s World Cup champion, she won an Olympic gold medal in Paris in 2024 and retired internationally at the end of the year. She had 115 caps, 112 starts and 69 clean sheets in her international career.
She is one of three players — the only goalkeeper — who competed in the inaugural season of the National Women’s Soccer League in 2013 and is still active.
In the 2025 season, she became the first NWSL goalie to reach 200 starts and appearances, as well as to tally 60 wins and 45 shutouts with one club.
With the Stars, she holds the franchise record for the most regular-season starts and appearances (165), minutes played (14,821), saves (512) and clean sheets(46).
“Alyssa has had an immeasurably important impact on the Stars and our fans,” general manager Richard Feuz said in a statement. “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.”
The Stars acquired Naeher in a trade with Boston before the 2016 season. During her tenure in Chicago, the club reached the playoffs for seven consecutive seasons (2016-22).
In 2025, she logged 23 appearances, made 75 saves and played nearly 2,100 minutes. Naeher also became just the third NWSL goalkeeper to score a goal, doing so in the 99th minute to salvage a 3-3 draw with the Seattle Reign on Aug. 18.
–Field Level Media
