The USWNT's shot-stopper is rarely in the spotlight, but Naeher to take center stage in Olympic Gold Medal game

It wasn't quite a scene out of The Godfather and, to be fair, Alyssa Naeher isn't Vito Corleone. There was no Marlon Brando accent, no white cat, no Francis Ford Coppola direction. That said, as Naeher marches through what will most certainly be her final tournament with the U.S. women's national team, star teammate Trinity Rodman had to make a statement.

She felt the need to pay respects

In the video posted on social media after the U.S. advanced the Olympic Gold Medal match, Rodman, perhaps the breakout star of these Games, grabs her teammate, and requests a hug from a player 14 years her senior. Rodman might just be the face of the USWNT someday – if she isn't already – but, as she prepares for her first major tournament final, she was compelled first to salute the 36-year-old goalkeeper that helped get her here.

"I'm just here to hype Alyssa up," Rodman says as she embraces her smiling teammate. "She is our queen, our saving grace today. We all love you and appreciate you and we're going to a Gold Medal game."

Rodman's right: Naeher has repeatedly been this team's savior. Without her late stop in the Tuesday's USWNT Olympic semifinal against Germany, the U.S. would not be playing for gold Saturday against Brazil in Paris. While most eyes have been on the USWNT's all-action attack in these Games, Naeher has consistently played her part, albeit often in the shadows.

Yet heading into what will be the USWNT's first Olympic final since London 2012, Naeher is no longer in the shadows; she's a focal point. It will almost certainly will be her final meaningful USWNT game. There's a testimonial in her honor to come, but in terms of stakes? Her final international tournament game could be the most important.

And that's why Rodman was so eager to pay her respects, so eager to let Naeher how much she means to this team, both physically on the pitch and emotionally as a leader. If this is going to be the end of Naeher's storied international career, Rodman and the USWNT feel obligated to make it golden.

GettyWriting her own USWNT legacy

It isn't easy to become a USWNT legend – the bar to earn that title is exceptionally high. This team has featured so many incredible players in recent decades, players that have literally changed the game forever. To earn your place among them is an enormous accomplishment. You have to be a special player and special person to reserve your place.

Naeher, unquestionably, is deservedly in that realm, and her achievements speak for themselves. She's earned 111 caps for the USWNT while winning two World Cups. One of those, 2019, came with Naeher as a starter. She has 12 CONCACAF trophies on her resume. NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year, CONCACAF Goalkeeper of the Year, Best XIs, Golden Gloves – the list of accolades goes on and on.

Really, there's just one thing missing: Olympic gold.

The USWNT has the most Olympic gold and most total medals in the history of the competition, winning four golds, one silver and one bronze. But this is their first opportunity to claim gold in 12 years. The U.S. failed to medal in the 2016 Olympics, which ultimately led to Naeher's ascension as the starter. They claimed Olympic bronze back in 2021, falling short of expectations. For Naeher, even that was a disappointment, as a leg injury kept her out of the third-place match.

“It’s always disappointing to have to leave the game with an injury,” she said. “You put everything into the preparation and I didn’t get to finish that. We came up short."

And now, in large part because of her, Naeher and the U.S. will have a chance at gold, once again.

AdvertisementGettySpectacular at the Olympics

For most of these Olympics, it may have seemed as if Naeher was rarely challenged. Of course, that's not true. Naeher has combined for 23 saves across five games, giving up just two goals and recording clean sheets against both Japan and Germany in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively. She may be under the radar to some, but Naeher has been spectacular.

The USWNT spent the group stage blasting teams, crushing Zambia, Germany and Australia to earn their place in the knockout round. Zambia and Germany put up little fight and, even when Germany did score in the 4-1 USWNT win, it was inconsequential. Australia's late goal caused a bit of a scare but was ultimately just a consolation. Those are the only two goals scored against Naeher in the Paris Games.

To start the knockouts, Japan – knowing the explosiveness of the U.S. attack – was content with sitting back and staying strong. They didn't push forward and, if not for a Rodman stunner in extra time, they may just have found a way to upset the U.S.

It was in the semifinals, however, that Naeher would turn in her defining moment of these Games. With just minutes remaining in the USWNT's tense extra-time rematch against Germany, she would be called upon to make one of the biggest – if not the biggest – saves of her career.

GettyA legendary save

Sophia Smith had already done the hard part. After 90 scoreless minutes, the U.S. and Germany were in extra time. Slipped in by Mal Swanson, Smith dispatched the opening goal, giving the U.S. a fragile 1-0 lead. Now, they had to protect it.

And by "they" we mean Naeher, who provided a legacy-cementing, tournament-altering save.

In the 119th minute, Germany looped a free kick forward, looking to take advantage of what would surely be their last legitimate chance to tie. They came close. Laura Freigang flicked a header forward, but Naeher was more than up to the challenge, making the most of a what would turn out to be a massive moment. Her outstretched toe got to the ball, preventing what would have been the game-tying goal.

The save sent social media into a frenzy. The U.S. was into the Gold Medal game and they had Naeher, and her left foot, to thank. Naeher finished the match with seven saves, her most ever in a World Cup or Olympic contest. With the clean sheet, she leveled Hope Solo for the U.S. mark for most shutouts in a tournament – and she still has one game to play.

GettyA difference-maker in goal

We may not be able to predict the exact outcome of Saturday's Gold Medal game, but we do know it will be challenging for the U.S. Brazil is an accomplished team, and they'll be motivated to send off their own iconic star, Marta, with a tournament triumph. They have it all to play for, too. It's going to be tight.

But, let's just say it goes the distance. Let's say it goes to penalties with the gold medal on the line. In that scenario, is there player you would want on your side more than Naeher?

Just look at her heroics earlier this year. Against Canada in the Gold Cup, she was the hero. She saved three penalty kicks and converted one herself, leading the way to a tournament trophy. Approximately a month later, she did it again, saving three more Canada penalty kicks and making her own from the spot in the SheBelieves Cup.

Naeher is a rare commodity, a player with the ability to save penalties the nerve to make her own. And, in pressure situations, there are few players in the world you would trust more.