After having multiple sources confirm, Excelle Sports revealed that long time U.S. Women’s National Team midfielder Heather O’Reilly will announce her retirement on Thursday, September 1.
O'Reilly's success
O’Reilly currently plays in the National Women’s Soccer League for FC Kansas City. The 31-year-old has been part of the national team scene since she was a 17-year-old in high school. Since then, she’s become a huge part of the USWNT and its success, playing big roles in the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympics - where the U.S. won gold each time - as well as the 2007, 2011 and most importantly 2015 World Cup, where she was crowned a world champion in Canada. In her fourteen years with the national team, the Jersey native has earned 230 caps and scored 46 goals for her country. She’s one of the world’s most capped players in the game and holds the record for sixth highest assists for the USWNT.
The midfielder has been around to see and be a part of the growing women’s game in this country. She played for Sky Blue FC in the WPS, with four goals in 50 appearances starting in 2009. After the WPS folded in 2011, O’Reilly became a key player for the Boston Breakers when the NWSL was created in 2013, where she scored 14 goals in 40 appearances in two season. In 2015, she was traded to FC Kansas City where she won the NWSL Championship and currently has two goals in 13 appearances.
Follow up from Rio 2016
This decision to retire comes after USWNT head coach Jill Ellis made O’Reilly an alternate for the 2016 Rio Olympics. After the official roster was announced in July, the midfielder posted on Instagram with a heartfelt caption:
“In the 230 games that I have played for the USWNT so far, I have done it with my whole heart, with every ounce of me, regardless of the role, to help us win. Whether I was a starter, or a substitute, or even the times that I did not see the field. At the end of the day, I love this team, and I love representing all of you.”