Football
USWNT: Three-time Olympian Kelley O’Hara announces retirement from football
The two-time World Cup winner will hang up her boots at the end of the 2024 NWSL season.
USWNT defender Kelley O’Hara has announced her retirement from football.
The three-time Olympian will hang up her boots at the end of the 2024 NWSL season.
“I have always said I would play under two conditions: that I still love playing soccer, and if my body would let me do it the way I wanted to,” O’Hara told Just Women’s Sports.
“I realised a while back that I was always going to love it, so it was the physical piece that was going to be the deciding factor.”
The 35-year-old admits she has ‘made a lot of peace’ with her decision to step away from the field, feeling only gratitude for all that she has achieved.
O’Hara and her teammates - some still playing, some now retired - have been hugely influential in growing women’s football both Stateside and internationally.
LYON, FRANCE - JULY 07: Kelley O Hara (L-R), Alex Morgan and Allie Long of the USA celebrate following their side victory in the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France Final match between The United States of America and The Netherlands at Stade de Lyon on July 07, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images)
“I feel an immense sense of pride around [growing the game], because I don’t know if any of us knew that was going to happen,” she continued.
“We kind of, as things unfolded, took the next step towards changing what women’s football looks like in this country and around the world.
“I’m really grateful to have been part of this era with the players that I was with, not backing down and pushing and knowing that was the right thing to do.”
From being an Olympic gold medallist, a two-time World Cup winner, and winning the NWSL Championship twice, O’Hara has quite the list of accolades.
But after pouring everything she has into the game, the NJ/NY Gotham defender is ‘excited’ at the thought of putting her energy into other passions.
“Whatever you do in life, do it because you love it, and the chips will fall in place,” she said.
“If you love something, you’re willing to do what it takes. You’re willing to make the sacrifices, you’re willing to handle the roller coaster.
“To me, it’s simple - don’t do it for any other reason but that, and I think you’ll be alright.”
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 11: Kelley O'Hara #5 of NJ/NY Gotham FC celebrates after defeating NJ/NY Gotham FC in the 2023 NWSL Championship game at Snapdragon Stadium on November 11, 2023 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
Kelley O’Hara: Career accolades and trophies
Club career
- FC Gold Pride: WPS Championship (2010)
- Washington Spirit: NWSL Championship (2021)
- NJ/NY Gotham: NWSL Championship
International career
- FIFA Women’s World Cup (2015; 2019)
- FIFA Women’s World Cup runner-up (2011)
- Olympic Gold medal (2012)
- Olympic Bronze Medal (2020)
- CONCACAF Women’s Championship (2014; 2018; 2022)
- SheBelieves Cup (2016; 2018; 2020; 2021; 2022)
- Algarve Cup (2011; 2013; 2015)
Individual accolades
- U.S Soccer Young Female Athlete of the Year – finalist (2007; 2009)
- Hermann Trophy – winner (2009)
- NCAA All-American First Team (2009)
- IFFHS CONCACAF Women’s Team of the Decade (2011-2020)
- FIFPRO Women’s World XI: 2019
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