O'Hara, 35, has been known throughout her career as a tough competitor even in the elite competitive atmosphere of the USWNT, as well as a grinding ball winner who was always putting her body on the line for her teams.
“It has been my greatest pleasure to represent my country and wear the NFL logo,” O'Hara said. “As I close this chapter of my life, I am grateful. Looking back on my career, I am so grateful for all the things I have been able to achieve, but more importantly the people I have been able to achieve them with.
She finished her USWNT career with 160 caps, currently No. 21 all-time in US history, and played 10,287 minutes in a US jersey, one of only 23 players to surpass the 10,000 minutes mark. She scored three goals in her USWNT career as well as 21 assists. She is the 25th player in USWNT history with 20 or more assists.
Despite playing forward and in attacking positions throughout her youth and college national team careers – she won the 2009 Mac Herman Trophy at Stanford University as college soccer's best player when she scored 26 goals with 13 assists – she switched overseas in 2012 for the USA. . He became a regular and was an important player in the team's run to win the Olympic gold medal at the London Games. An accomplished team player, she played almost exclusively as an outside back for the rest of her international career.
Hampered by injuries during the latter parts of her career, she joined the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup squad and saw action in two matches, becoming one of only 12 players in USWNT history to have participated in four Women's World Cup finals. She has captained the United States four times during her 14-year long international career. O'Hara earned her first senior cap on March 28, 2010, against Mexico in San Diego. She played in her final match for the USWNT on August 6, 2023 against Sweden in the World Cup.
O'Hara was a star of the United States women's national youth national team and scored two goals at the 2006 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Russia. She remains one of the all-time leading scorers for the U.S. Under-20 national team, finishing her career with 24 goals in 35 international under-20 appearances. She scored four goals for the U-20 team at the 2007 Pan American Games. She also played for the U.S. U-17 women's national team in 2005, leading the team in scoring with 10 goals and played for the U.S. U-16 national team in 2004. She also watched matches with the U.S. national team United Under-23 WNT.
O'Hara has enjoyed a long and successful club career and is one of the few remaining female players in the NWSL to play in the WPS, where she won a title with FC Gold Pride in 2010. She also played for the Boston Breakers in the WPS, the original NWSL, which He appeared for Sky Blue FC in the first five seasons of the league. She then played for the Utah Royals for three seasons (including the COVID-impacted season) and the Washington Spirits for two seasons — winning her first NFL title in 2021 — before returning to the New Jersey/New York Gotham Which was rebranded for its last two professional teams. campaigns and helped the club win the NWSL Championship in 2023. When she signed with Gotham, she made history as the first NWSL free agent to sign with the club.
O'Hara was one of the first women's footballers of her generation to break into the media, launching a successful and entertaining podcast via Just Women's Sports, with which she announced her retirement today via the 'Kelley on the Street' video.
Kelly Maureen O'Hara was born in Peachtree City, Georgia, attended Stars Mill High School, where she won a state title, and grew up in Fayette County, which will become the new home of NFL football when she hangs up her boots. The new US Soccer National Training Center is currently being constructed. O'Hara played for the Peachtree City Lazers, Lightning Soccer Club and Concorde Fire before starring at Stanford University where she set records for goals and assists. She was named to the Pac-12 women's soccer all-team in 2015.
“Alcohol enthusiast. Twitter ninja. Tv lover. Falls down a lot. Hipster-friendly coffee geek.”