The Football Ferns’ captain’s career spans nearly two decades, five World Cups (2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023), and four Olympics, as well as numerous leagues across the globe.

Riley has made no regular-season appearances in 2025, as she has been dealing with a chronic nerve injury that has sidelined her since the start of the Paris Olympics in July 2024, causing her to withdraw from the Olympic squad. She was able to return to the training pitch in August.

“I want to thank my family, friends, the teams that I have played for, the teammates I have played with, and the fans who have rooted for me here at home and all over the world,” Riley said in her announcement. “I am leaving with my head held so high and feeling so much support and love. This chapter may be closing, but I know there is so much more to come.”

In college, Riley was a star for the Stanford Cardinal, leading her team to two NCAA semifinals and one final from 2006 to 2009. During that time, she also debuted for the New Zealand women’s national team in 2007 and quickly established herself as a crucial member, eventually earning 163 international caps, the second most in team history. She holds the New Zealand record for most appearances in major tournaments.

Riley’s professional career began with FC Gold Pride in the WPS in 2010. She won a championship and Rookie of the Year with the Pride. In 2011, she joined Western New York Flash and won another championship.

From there, Riley went to Sweden, where she won multiple league titles with FC Rosengård from 2012 to 2018. She spent one season each with England’s Chelsea FC (2018-2019) and Germany’s Bayern Munich (2019-2020) before returning to the NWSL.

She returned to the United States to play with the Orlando Pride in 2020 (though she did not play that year due to the Pride’s removal from the inaugural Challenge Cup), and again in 2021.

When Angel City joined the NWSL as an expansion team, they acquired Riley in a trade, allowing her to play in her hometown for the first time in her career. From there, she was named team captain and has held the title to this day.

“Ali Riley is Angel City. Her heart, grit, and unwavering commitment to lifting everyone around her have shaped the culture of this club,” said ACFC CEO and Co-Founder Julie Uhrman in a release. “Her impact on our team, our city, the global game, and on me personally is immeasurable. Ali has shown us that leadership goes far beyond the pitch; it’s in how you care for others, how you show up, and how you lead every single day. Her love of the game, for Angel City, and for the community is undeniable. And while she may no longer be on the pitch, she will never be far from Angel City. We all need more Ali Rileys in our lives.”

The 2025 Copa América Femenina ended as many expected it to, with Brazil defeating Colombia in the final. There were plenty of twists and turns along the way, however.

On their journey toward a ninth title in 10 editions, Brazil were given headaches by opponents leaving two forwards up front to counter-attack with. Their 4-1 group stage win over Paraguay was more of a struggle than the scoreline let on, and their 5-1 semifinal victory over Uruguay came despite constant two-versus-two scenarios for their defenders against nippy, dangerous forwards. The difference in those games was that Brazil had far greater quality in both boxes than their opposition; this was not the case against Colombia.

It is Brazil’s ninth championship while Colombia are runners-up for the second straight time.

Colombia opened the scoring in the 25th minute through 20-year-old Linda Caicedo. Mayra Ramírez slipped Caicedo into a pocket of space at the top of the six-yard box, where the young attacker cooly finished with a low corner shot.

Brazil equalized in first-half stoppage time when Angelina converted a penalty kick awarded by VAR for an off-the-ball foul.

In the 69th minute, a disastrous play gave Colombia the lead once again. Tarciane intended to pass the ball back to her goalkeeper under some pressure, but ended up passing it into her own net.

Ten minutes later, Amanda Gutierres scored her fifth goal of the tournament to once again draw Brazil level. Gutierres was able to chest down the cross sent in by Gio Garbelini and cleanly shoot into the bottom, far corner.

Colombia might’ve thought they won the game in the 88th minute when Caceido and Ramírez connected again to give them the 3-2 advantage. This time it was Cacedio assisting Ramírez, slipping the Chelsea forward in on goal on the counterattack.

Brazil, however, was not done. In the sixth of seven second-half stoppage time minutes, Marta hit a left-footed rocket from outside the box to tie the game at 3-3. The brilliant finish and late-game heroics represented the kind of brilliance we have come to expect from the Brazilian legend.

In extra time, it was finally Brazil’s chance to take the lead. And once again, it was the legendary Marta, this time tapping it in from close range off the assist from Angelina.

With five minutes remaining in extra time, Colombia tied the game one last time thanks to a beautiful direct free kick from Washington Spirit attacker Leicy Santos that went straight into the top corner.

Tied with four goals each, the 2025 Copa America Feminina Final would be decided with a penalty shootout.

The penalty shootout began with Tarciane and Catalina Usme both converting their spot kicks for Brazil and Colombia, respectively. Angelina’s penalty was saved by Katherine Tapia and Marcela Restrepo converted for Colombia. Gutierres evened the score for Brazil and Manuela Paví skied her attempt over the crossbar.

The next round bolstered Brazil’s lead, with Mariza converting before Santos had her attempt saved by Lorena Silva. Marta had the chance to win it all in the fifth round and continue her heroics, but Tapia came up with another save. Caicedo then, unfazed by the enormity of the moment, calmly tied it again.

Moving into sudden death, both kickers in the sixth round, Jhonson and Wendy Bonilla, scored. Luany scored the first penalty kick of the seventh round, so when Lorena saved Jorelyn Carabalí‘s shot, Brazil came out victorious.

The group stage wrapped up without too many shocks (and for those keeping track, the Equalizer did say the eight teams who’ve been knocked out would not win), opening up the path to the trophy for one of the last eight still standing. While things have been relatively staid in the upset department thus far, the quarterfinals have the opportunity to deliver some left turns, and send some giants home early.

Norway vs Italy

Wednesday, July 16, 9 pm (3 pm ET), Geneva

A throwback to the earlier years of the European Championships, quarter-final #1 is a re-run of the 1993 Euros final, something only a handful of players from the two squads were alive for. Although Norway has remained somewhat competitive since the end of the 90s, Italy struggled with more of a noticeable drop-off but a nation that’s reorientated its trajectory in recent years, Le Azzurre have been producing better results than their opposition in recent times.

“Over New Year’s, I actually came to the full acceptance that I wasn’t going to be playing, which was like a two-year, some might say three-year process of acceptance,” Heath told listeners.

Heath was a joy to watch for over a decade thanks to her creativity and elite technical skill. An intense student of the game, Heath was known for her tricky nutmegs, sneaky jukes, joyful juggling, slick dribbles and clever passes.

The now 37-year-old had her career cut short by a serious knee injury in 2022 that required several surgeries to repair and eventually ended up being career-ending. Her last U.S. appearance came on Oct. 26, 2021. Her last NWSL appearance was Aug. 14, 2022, for Seattle Reign (then OL Reign).

Despite injuries throughout her career, Heath made 181 appearances in 13 years for the senior national team, scoring 36 goals and adding 42 assists. She won two World Cups (2015, 2019) and three Olympic medals (gold in 2008 and 2012, bronze in 2020/21).

The University of North Carolina alumni began her pro career with the Atlanta Beat after being picked No. 1 overall in the 2010 WPS College Draft. While still a Tar Heel, Heath won four straight Atlantic Coast Conference titles and three NCAA National Championships.

In the NWSL, Heath won multiple Championships and Shields. The attacker won two NWSL championships with the Portland Thorns, in 2013 & 2017. Heath was named the 2013 NWSL Championship MVP for scoring the game-winning goal directly from a free kick. She also won two NWSL Shields, one with Portland in 2016 and the other with the Seattle Reign in 2022. Between 2013 and 2022, Heath made 75 NWSL appearances, recording 13 goals and 24 assists.

Best in class

Spain – La Roja continue their frightening form, and have already scored more goals (11) than the entirety of their 2024 Olympic run. The defending world champions have showcased an unrelenting ferocity in front of goal – one propelled by tournament joint top scorers Alexia Putellas and Esther González. 18-year-old Vicky López has taken center stage as an understudy to Aitana Bonmatí, who continues to ramp up minutes. Though Spain flashed some defensive deficiencies against Belgium, their immediate responses in the form of goals are indicative of a winning mentality.     

Sweden – Sweden delivered several devastating blows to Poland and punched their way to the knockout round. They tormented their opponents’ center backs with cutting crosses into the box, and out-shot the tournament debutantes 22 to 7. Swedish stalwarts Kosovare Asllani and Stina Blackstenius were simply too much to handle, and paved the way to the resounding 3-0 victory. Sweden progress full steam ahead in their quest for their major international trophy since 1984. 

France – Call it smart squad management or flexing of squad depth as France made seven changes to the side that dispatched England last week. Wales were often their own worst enemies, and France rarely had to switch to higher gears. That being said, Les Bleues still dictated the game, and capitalized on their chances. Group D is still mathematically undecided, and thanks to Wednesday’s squad rotation, will enter their decisive final match against the Netherlands with fresher legs. 

Battle-worn, but through to the quarterfinals

Germany – The eight-time tournament winners bent a bit in their group stage match against Denmark, but did not break. Denmark struck first in their second group stage match, but Germany claimed the lead with two second-half goals, and never let go. Germany were perhaps fortunate to have been awarded a soft penalty, but made the most of it. They will now face fellow quarterfinalists Sweden to determine who tops the group, and will aim to continue to grow into the tournament. It may all be academic as both Sweden and Germany are guaranteed to face one of France, England, or the Netherlands in what will be heavyweight quarterfinal match-ups.

Norway – It was an unconvincing win in an unconvincing group, but the table does not lie. Norway were outworked and out-thought for the majority of their match versus Finland. However, individually brilliant players are capable of single-handedly flipping games, and that is exactly what Caroline Graham Hansen did. Her 84th-minute mazy run into the box and genius angled finish made the difference. Norway, now top the group, await either Portugal or Italy in the quarterfinals.

Go big or go home

England – That is one way to silence the critics. The Lionesses delivered an emphatically self-assured and dominant performance that could well turn around their tournament fortunes. Coach Sarina Wiegman’s reputation of being loath to make changes is well-known, but the 4-0 result validates her decisions to alternate Jess Carter and Alex Greenwood in the back line and replace Beth Mead with Ella Toone. England absolutely bossed the Netherlands with more direct, physical, and incisive play. Lauren James showcased her otherworldly talent with a brace. This resilient showing puts England in excellent stead to maintain their Euro crowd as they conclude their group stage against a limited Wales.

Switzerland – Buoyed by a boisterous home crowd, the hosts nabbed a 2-0 win over Iceland to keep their tournament hopes alive. Led by outstanding young talent, the Swiss play with a sense of sheer fun and attacking abandon. Head coach Pia Sundhage demonstrated tactical flexibility in tweaking the formation and rotating her two strikers up top. The changes paid dividends, as the hosts poured chances on an over-matched Iceland side. The hosts will hope to keep the party going, as their sights turn to gaining a result against Finland on Thursday.

Italy – Each of Italy’s two tournament goals have been top-tier products of individual magic. They will need to reach into their bag of tricks once more, as they face the unenviable challenge of earning at least a point against Spain to guarantee their place in the next round. The task is even tougher, as Italy has shown a propensity to become defensively frayed when pressed. 

Portugal – Portugal put forth a laudable, tenacious, and proud performance against Italy, earning a 1-1 draw (the only stalemate of the tournament thus far). It was a 180-degree performance from their pummeling at the hands of Spain, as they plugged up a leaky defense and utilized their subs to threaten in attack. Kika Nazareth is a game-changer and will be crucial in a must-win game against Italy on Friday.

Finland – The Boreal Owls thoroughly outplayed Norway, and topped their opponents in every statistical category except for the one that matters most – goals scored. Luck has simply not been on the Finns’ side thus far. Can fortune finally favor the brave for this sturdy and industrious Finland side? They will look to spoil the Swiss party and knock out the hosts.

Netherlands – The 2019 Euro winners were utterly played off the park against England, and now face the very real threat of group stage elimination. The Netherlands could not lay a glove on their opponents (specifically in midfield), and Vivianne Miedema was starved of service throughout the match. The soul-searching will need to be swift, as they must now vanquish a fearsome France to stay alive in the Group of Death. 

The journey ends here

Belgium – Belgium acquitted themselves with dignity, but besting Spain was ultimately a Sisyphean task. The Red Flames were essentially extinguished after the first group stage match against Italy, and will undoubtedly be disappointed in not realizing the potential that resides in this well-organized side.

Iceland – Overcoming both the hosts Switzerland and the electric atmosphere generated by its home supporters proved too tall a task. Iceland will now hope to score in their final group match against Norway to avoid being the only team remaining yet to find the back of the net.

Denmark – The Danes started on the front foot against Germany and drew first blood, but were ultimately undone by a questionable penalty and some shoddy defending. They simply did not have enough answers against stiff group stage competition Germany and Sweden, and are now eliminated in the Euro group stage in consecutive tournaments. 

Poland – The feistiness and spunk demonstrated against Germany was absent in Poland’s second group match versus Sweden. Poland were entirely overrun by Sweden’s dynamic attacking play, and will now conclude their debut tournament with a dead rubber match against Denmark. 

Wales – Rhian Wilkinson’s side will depart Switzerland with several memories worth celebrating and cherishing. The Dragons scored their first goal in a major international tournament, and it came courtesy of – who else? – but 38-year-old Jess Fishlock. Wales, however, were undone by too many self-inflicted defensive and goalkeeping errors, which spells a hasty end to their debut tournament run.

The UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 hosts put on a dream performance in front of a record crowd in Bern, Switzerland, on Sunday. After a disappointing opening day loss to Norway, Switzerland came back to defeat Iceland 2-0 in front of 29,658 fans, the sixth-largest women’s EURO tournament crowd ever, and the third of 2025 to make the top ten.

“It’s incredible,” Switzerland captain Lia Wälti said after the win about the support of the Swiss fans. “Before the game, I probably cried about three times already because when we came to the stadium, seeing all the fans, the videos of the city, and how amazing people are in supporting us – it’s something we’ve never experienced in Switzerland.  So we’re going to have to really enjoy it.”

The blowouts:

Portugal 0, Spain 5 — Thursday, July 3 

From the moment this game began, Portugal never stood a chance. The truest rout of the tournament so far saw Spain scoring early and often —  as early as two minutes in, thanks to Esther Gonzalez, and as often as five times. Gonzalez bagged a brace, and her teammates Vicky Lopez, Cristina Martin-Prieto, and the dominant Alexia Putellas found the back of the net as well. The reigning World Cup champions and No. 2-ranked team in the world will next face Belgium (No. 20) on Monday, while No. 22 Portugal has to face the Italians (No. 13), who continue to rise in the FIFA world rankings. 

Wales 0, Netherlands 3 — Saturday, July 5

The Welsh national team has come a long way, and their participation in the 2025 Euros is emblematic of that; this is the first major women’s tournament Wales has participated in, and it came with a historic fight. But Jess Fishlock, well-known to NWSL fans as a longtime member of Seattle Reign, could not lead her team to victory against one of the most lethal combinations in all of international women’s soccer — Danielle van de Donk and Vivianne Miedema. Miedema’s goal, in extra time of the first half, was her 100th goal for the Dutch national team and was assisted by the formidable van de Donk. By the end of the match, the Oranje had solidly outplayed the Dragons. Wales (No. 30) will face another challenging opponent in France (No. 10), and the Netherlands (No. 11) will take on No. 5 England when Group D plays on Wednesday, July 9.

Germany 2, Poland 0 — Friday, July 4

While this scoreline doesn’t quite meet the requirements of the “blowout” category, this one was never really in doubt. Germany held possession for 70% of the game and saw an outstanding performance from attacking midfielder Jule Brand, who scored the team’s first goal in the 52nd minute and assisted the second (scored by Lea Schüller) in the 66th. Unfortunately for Germany, the team’s captain, 26-year-old outside back Giulia Gwinn, came off in the 40th minute with a knee injury that the federation confirmed will sideline her for the rest of the tournament. Germany (No. 3) will have to figure out how to manage without her as they take on Denmark (No. 12) on Tuesday, July 8, while Poland (No. 27) looks for an unlikely victory against Sweden (No. 6).

The surprises:

France 2, England 1 — Saturday, July 5 

The England Lionesses knew they had a tough opponent ahead of them when they drew France as their first opponent. But the defending champions weren’t prepared for a loss. That is, however, what France handed them on Saturday, July 5, winning 2-1 and flipping the script on a team that had more possession — France had 43% to England’s 57% — and at times looked as unbeatable as ever. England technically struck first with an early goal from national team mainstay Alessia Russo, but it was ruled offside by VAR. France capitalized on its opponent’s frustration and scored twice within three minutes — a goal from Marie-Antoinette Katoto in the 36th minute followed by a goal from Sandy Baltimore in the 39th. A late goal from England in the 87th, nabbed by Kiera Walsh, briefly put the result back up for grabs, but France edged out the win. Les Bleus, ranked No. 10, will ride high as they take on Wales on Wednesday, July 9. England, however, has to contend with a dominant Netherlands.

Iceland 0, Finland 1 — Wednesday, July 2 

The Euros got off to a surprising start with the opening game between the highest and lowest ranked teams in Group A, No. 14 and No. 26, respectively. Though Iceland is a higher-ranked team, Finland controlled more possession and looked sincerely strong on the field. The game-changing moment came before the first goal scored by Katariina Kosola in the 70th minute. In the 58th minute, Icelandic midfielder Hildur Antonsdottir received a second yellow card, ejecting her from the game. She’ll be unavailable when Iceland faces the hosts, Switzerland (No. 23), on Sunday, July 6. Finland will hope to continue their winning streak, though No. 16 Norway will likely prove to be a formidable challenge. 

The predictables:

Denmark 0, Sweden 1 — Friday, July 4 

This game between world No. 12 and No. 6., respectively, went mostly how it was predicted. The sole goal of the game came in the 55th minute from Swedish midfielder Filippa Angeldahl, who was all over the field on Friday. She will be key to Sweden’s ability to go deep in this tournament. Their next test will be against Poland on Tuesday, July 8. The Danes, meanwhile, will take on Germany and will hope to edge out their tough competition now that the eight-time European champions are down a crucial player. 

Belgium 0, Italy 1 — Thursday, July 3 

Italy is home to one of the richest national soccer cultures in the world, but for a long time, the Italian women’s national team was anything but a force to be reckoned with. That’s no longer true. Over the past few years, the Italians have been climbing the FIFA world rankings, ranking as high as No. 13 at the start of the tournament. Their game against Belgium was a close one — the possession share between the two teams was almost 50/50 — but Italy’s Arianna Caruso was the difference-maker. Her goal in the 44th minute, assisted by Lucia Di Guglielmo, elevated Italy to the winner’s circle and further into the international conversation. They’ll look to continue their winning streak against Portugal on Monday, July 7, after the Belgians attempt to redeem themselves against the formidable Spain.

The bummers:

Switzerland 1, Norway 2 — Wednesday, July 2

The tournament’s hosts were hoping to open the tournament with a better start, and for a while, it looked as if they would. They were first on the board when they scored in the 28th minute, as Nadine Riesen found the back of the net. Norway tied the game in the 54th minute with a goal from Ada Hegerberg — her 50th for her national team — but Switzerland didn’t look like they were giving up. Well, until four minutes later, when an own-goal from Julia Stierli changed the mood of the game. Switzerland continued a hard fight but were unable to eke out the win. They next face Iceland on Sunday, July 6, shortly after Norway takes on Finland.

The first matchday of the 2025 UEFA Women’s European Championship group stage in Switzerland is now in the books. Across eight games, there were terrific goals, consequential results, and much still left to be decided. Join us for a Swiss-style heat check.

Top of the summit

Spain – Simply sensational. The reigning World Cup champions eviscerated Portugal 5-0 in a methodical, clinical, and relentless show of strength. Esther González continues her form as the brace queen, claiming the first brace in the group stage of the women’s Euro in the competition’s history.

While Canada needs to take some time to recalibrate — and new head coach Casey Stoney said as much in a postgame interview — the United States can conclude its international window feeling good about head coach Emma Hayes’s experimentation and where the team is headed. 

Here are five significant takeaways from the United States’ win over Canada, with a little reflection on this whole international window, too.

1. The kids are ready

When the USWNT released their lineup on Wednesday evening, three significant youngsters had made the starting roster once again — Lilly Reale on defense, Claire Hutton in the midfield and Avery Patterson as a full back. For those watching closely during the international window, this would come as no surprise, but for anyone just tuning in, they’re young — the average age between those three is 21 years old. 

But, while youthfulness can sometimes mean overwhelm or inexperience, in the case of these three, it means energy and drive instead. Their fresh legs and desires to prove themselves were on display on Wednesday night, as Reale played the full 90, with Hutton coming off in the 81st minute — after her first international goal — and Patterson playing all the way to the 86th minute.

If friendlies number one and two against Ireland earlier in this window were more of a trial for the youngsters, friendly number three against Canada was Hayes’s opportunity to put her best experiment forward. It’s becoming clearer and clearer that Reale, Patterson and Hutton have passed Hayes’s test and will be a part of her long-term vision.

2. That doesn’t mean the veterans are being replaced

As much as this recent friendly window was an opportunity for the kids to prove themselves, it was also somewhat of a comeback celebration for USWNT star Rose Lavelle. The midfielder, who has been a mainstay on all the recent U.S. World Cup and Olympic teams, had been sidelined for a few months after her latest injury — an ankle problem, for which she underwent surgery in December 2024. 

But Lavelle was back on the pitch earlier in the friendly window, making her first national team appearance in about seven months, and to the likes of roaring crowds — especially during friendly number two, in her hometown of Cincinnati. And during this friendly window, she looked like her old self again — quick and creative on the ball, and turning set pieces into real chances for the team. Lavelle made it clear, to Hayes and to herself: she’s back.

Other veterans also continued the cases for themselves within a young team. Lynn Biyendolo wearing the captain’s armband for the first time in her up-and-down career with the national team was one of the most emotional moments of the friendly window. And though Hayes has been trying stuff out with center back Tara McKeown, when it came down to it against a formidable team like Canada, Hayes went with the 31-year-old Emily Sonnett, who has 109 caps for the United States.

3. A new midfield has emerged

The combination of Hutton, Lavelle and Sam Coffey in the midfield, with Hutton and Lavelle more central and Coffey occupying space up top, seems to be a winning combination. It was a formation that Hayes used repeatedly throughout the friendly window, and it worked for multiple reasons. Not only did the three use their positioning to open wide spaces for their teammates, but they also took their own opportunities as they came — each of them managed to score a goal during this friendly window. 

Questions circulate around midfield mainstay Lindsey Heaps, who has been one of the biggest names and faces fueling the team for years. Heaps has historically shown no signs of breaking, but at age 31 and no major tournaments for two more years, Hayes might be looking closely at players that can step up as Heaps has to begin phasing out from 90-minute performances. It looks like she may have found some.

4. Alyssa Thompson: back and better than ever?

There’s a path that some USWNT forwards travel in the first few years of their career. They start out young and strong, appear in a World Cup or an Olympics or two, and then they fall to the side for some time. Mallory Swanson went through this rollercoaster, only to redeem herself by scoring the winning goal in the 2024 Olympics, and Jaedyn Shaw may be going through it right now. Maybe it’s because of their youth, and the pressure that comes with being labeled a phenom. Or maybe it’s because being a forward is hard on the body, and no one can avoid an injury. But one thing is for sure — these players do not want to be seen as overrated. 

The 20-year-old Alyssa Thompson is the latest USWNT forward to walk this path. She made the 2023 World Cup team, only to be dropped off of the 2024 Olympic squad. She recovered from a back injury, made her way back into the national team rotation, and, during this recent stretch of friendlies, looked back to be at her original form — a player with not only unmatched speed but true determination and grit that fuels her up and down the field. She’s had the ups and the downs, but after the past few matches, she proved that she, too, should be a part of Hayes’ vision for the future.

5. It’s crowded at the top

Thompson’s youthful speed and Biyendolo’s years of experience provided two distinct and effective strategies for the USWNT’s front line during this friendly break. There’s obviously space for others up front, but who there is space for remains unclear. Forwards like Emma Sears, Ally Sentnor and Yazmeen Ryan made big splashes during this friendly stretch and are certainly being given real consideration by Hayes. But the inevitable return of Triple Espresso — although that’s at least months away — means there won’t be room for everyone. Who will make the final cut? Luckily, as the international window closes for now, there’s time to figure that out.