Alyssa Naeher Extends Chicago Stay With One-Year Deal, Eyes Another Push In NWSL
NWSL icon and former USWNT goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher is not ready to call time on her career, signing a one-year contract with the Chicago Stars this week to continue her long-standing association with the club.
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The 2026 season will mark Naeher’s 11th year with Chicago, where she already owns several franchise records, including regular-season starts and appearances (165), minutes played (14,821), and saves (512).
“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 said in a statement on Wednesday.
“We made a lot of positive strides to close out last season and I want to build on that.”
Naeher’s return provides a significant boost of experience and leadership for a Chicago side entering a new era under incoming head coach Martin Sjögren.
The Stars cycled through three interim head coaches following the April dismissal of Lorne Donaldson, enduring a difficult 2025 campaign.
Chicago finished bottom of the NWSL table last season and have not progressed beyond the first round of the playoffs since 2021, underscoring the scale of the rebuild ahead.
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Reflecting on her decision to continue playing, Naeher emphasized the importance of commitment and honesty.
“If you feel like you can still give 100% to what you’re trying to do, then keep going,” she told fellow NWSL veteran Ali Riley onBFFR. “If you don’t think that you can, then it’s not fair to yourself or the team to do that.”
With her experience, consistency, and leadership, Naeher will once again be central to Chicago’s efforts to return to NWSL contention.
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