The USWNT awarded Kelly O’Hara a jersey with the number 160 to commemorate the number of games he played for the national team. (Brad Smith/ISI Photo/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)
The U.S. Women’s National Team says goodbye to another legend. The team honored defender Kerry O’Hara in a ceremony during Sunday’s friendly against Iceland.
O’Hara, a two-time World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist with the USWNT, played in 160 games and scored three goals in 13 years with the U.S. senior team. The team offered a $16 ticket to the game in Nashville to commemorate O’Hara’s 160th cap. To commemorate her appearance, she was awarded a jersey with the number 160 on her back.
The 36-year-old American defender announced his retirement in May, saying he would retire after the NWSL season. Throughout the season, O’Hara played minimal games for his club New Jersey/New York Gotham FC due to injury. She was ultimately placed on season-ending injured reserve due to chronic knee deterioration, forcing her to retire several months earlier than expected.
O’Hara was one of only 12 U.S. players selected to four World Cup rosters and was named to the 2019 FIFA FIFPro World Eleven after his performance at the 2019 World Cup.
The defender’s last game for the United States was at the 2023 World Cup, where he helped the USWNT in a penalty shootout against Sweden in the Round of 16, and was brought off the bench in overtime. The United States continued to lose in penalty shootouts. This led to the fastest World Cup elimination in history.
Sunday’s game got off to a slow start, with the U.S. trailing 1-0 in the first half on a goal from Icelandic forward Karolina Lea Virhjalmsdottir. The USA fought back with three goals in the second half and won 3-1.
Before the game, the team also took time to honor forward Mallory Swanson, who earned her 100th cap. Defender Emily Sonnett was honored with her 100th cap in the USA’s 3-1 win on Thursday.
USWNT honors Mallory Swanson for reaching her 100th cap in the Olympic Gold Medal Game 💯
Watch USA vs. Iceland live on TNT, truTV, and Max 📺 pic.twitter.com/axCwf17pvZ
— B/R Football (@brfootball) October 27, 2024
O’Hara said USWNT legends are ending their soccer careers as American icons like Megan Rapinoe, Julie Ertz and Alex Morgan bid farewell to both the NWSL and the national team last year. He is the newest in the wave of announcements.
