BREAKING: Heather O’Reilly to announce her retirementBy
Howard Megdal
AUG 31, 2016
Multiple sources have confirmed to Excelle Sports that Heather O’Reilly, capped 230 times by the U.S. women’s national soccer team, will announce her retirement on Thursday.
The decision by O’Reilly, 31, follows Jill Ellis leaving her off the 2016 U.S. team that went to the Olympics. O’Reilly played a critical role on numerous U.S. teams, making the 2004 Olympic team and playing in three World Cups for the Americans: 2007, 2011, and the World Cup-winning squad in 2015.
Prior to her international career, which came along with her significant role for Sky Blue, the Boston Breakers and FC Kansas City in the WPS and NWSL professional leagues, O’Reilly starred at North Carolina. She led the Tar Heels to championships in 2003 and 2006, and her number 20 was retired by North Carolina.
It is expected that FC Kansas City will host the retirement game for O’Reilly, which leaves just two regular season options for it: September 4 against Sky Blue FC and September 11 against the Chicago Red Stars.
If so, her Instagram post from this summer after being named an alternate to the Olympic team will serve as her national team goodbye. O’Reilly wrote at the time: “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.”