U.S. women’s national team star Kelley O’Hara has announced that she will retire at the end of Gotham FC’s 2024 NWSL season.
The 35-year-old defender confirmed her retirement plans with a statement on Thursday. O’Hara is a veteran of four World Cup teams, winning the trophy in 2015 and 2019, as well as three Olympic teams.
On the club level, the defender is one of the few players still playing that played in the WPS before becoming an NWSL original. She played for Sky Blue FC, the Utah Royals and the Washington Spirit before signing with Gotham FC in 2023. In doing so, she became the first-ever NWSL free agent to sign with a new team before helping the club claim the 2023 NWSL title.
O’Hara has been a mainstay with the USWNT since making her debut in 2010. In total, O’Hara has amassed 160 caps, scoring three goals from the fullback position.
She was originally called in as a replacement at the 2011 World Cup, making one appearance at the tournament, but was a regular by the time the 2012 Olympics began. O’Hara played every minute of the USWNT’s gold-medal run that summer.
At the 2015 World Cup, O’Hara didn’t feature until the quarter-final game against China, but her big contribution came in the semifinal as she scored in a 2-0 win over Germany. In 2019, she played in five of the USWNT’s seven games en route to a repeat.
O’Hara was also part of the 2023 World Cup team, starting the opener against Vietnam. She, unfortunately, missed a penalty in the USWNT’s Round of 16 defeat to Sweden in what will seemingly be the final international tournament of her illustrious career.
“It has been one of the greatest joys to represent my country and to wear the U.S. Soccer crest,” said O’Hara in a statement. “As I close this chapter of my life, I am filled with gratitude. Looking back on my career I am so thankful for all the things I was able to accomplish but most importantly the people I was able to accomplish them with.”
O’Hara will finish out the 2024 NWSL season with Gotham as the Bats look to defend their title. Up next for the defending champions is a match against the North Carolina Courage on Saturday.
As for the USWNT, all eyes are on the Olympics as the team looks ahead to a June 1 tune-up against South Korea.
