CHICAGO – Chicago Red Stars goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher earned her 100th National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) appearance in the 2-2 draw against Portland on Saturday, August 18. Naeher became the second goalkeeper in the league to reach the feat after Nicole Barnhart reached 100 appearances last year with FC Kansas City.
“I could not be more proud of Alyssa earning 100 appearances in the NWSL,” said Red Stars head coach Rory Dames. “She is the best goalkeeper in this league, and continues to work hard and improve her game day in and day out. She has stepped up to be a leader of this team both on and off the field and it is a privilege to be her coach.”
The U.S. Women’s National Team goalkeeper started her NWSL career with the Boston Breakers for the inaugural season in 2013. That year, she earned four wins and adding two shutouts, the most out of the Breakers’ three goalkeepers, despite only playing in nine matches.
Naeher’s breakout season came in 2014, playing all 24 matches and having a single-season high 106 saves to propel her to becoming NWSL’s Goalkeeper of the Year. She finished her time in Boston with 45 appearances, 207 saves and five clean sheets, on top of being a 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup Champion.
Naeher was then traded to Chicago in 2016, leading the league with six clean sheets that season in just 13 games while being part of the U.S. WNT during their run at the Olympic Games in Rio. The next year, Naeher repeated her six shutouts with 64 saves in 22 games.
This season, Naeher has appeared in all but one match for the Red Stars with seven clean sheets and 56 saves while holding a 6-4-10 record.
Naeher and the Red Stars are back in action on Saturday, August 25, when they travel to Orlando to take on the Pride at 6:30 p.m. CT. The match will be broadcast live on the NWSL app and NWSLsoccer.com.
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