Defender Kelley O'Hara plans to retire from soccer at the end of the NWSL season
U.S. team and Gotham FC defender Kelley O’Hara announced Thursday that she is retiring from soccer at the end of the National Women’s Soccer League season.
O’Hara, 35, is a two-time Women’s World Cup winner, an Olympic gold medalist and a two-time National Women’s Soccer League title winner.
She made her announcement on the Just Women’s Sports platform, where she has hosted a popular players’ podcast.
“I’ve been playing soccer since I was 4 years old, and it’s been an absolute joy,” she said. “But as they say, ‘Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.’ And I know there will be a lot of tears by me and probably some of y’all, but I hope there are more smiles.”
O’Hara, who was a free-agent signing by Gotham in 2023, has played in the NWSL for 11 seasons. Gotham won the NWSL title last season. Before that, she played for the Washington Spirit, which won the league championship in 2021.