USWNT midfielder Sam Mewis announces retirement

Veteran U.S. women’s national team midfielder Sam Mewis has decided to hang up her cleats after a lengthy club and international career.

Mewis announced her retirement from professional soccer, U.S. Soccer announced Friday. The 31-year-old underwent knee surgery in January 2023, which ultimately kept her off the field over the entire calendar year.

“Unfortunately, my knee can no longer tolerate the impact that elite soccer requires,” said Mewis. “Though this isn’t what I wanted, this is the only path forward for me. I want to thank everyone who has been on my team throughout this journey. Soccer has put so many wonderful things in my life, but the most wonderful thing has been the people. To all my family, friends, teammates, and fans, I truly feel that we did this together and I’m extremely grateful.”

Mewis scored 24 goals in 83 USWNT caps, serving as a key member of the World Cup-winning team in 2019. She featured in seven matches in France, scoring two goals and adding three assists.

Her assist on Rose Lavelle’s game-winning goal proved to be the difference for the USWNT in the final against the Netherlands. Mewis was voted the U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year in 2020, making her one of just 20 women to win U.S. Soccer’s most prestigious award.

Mewis also won a Bronze Medal at the rescheduled 2020 Tokyo Olympics, while also lifting the SheBelieves Cup twice and one CONCACAF Women’s Championship. At the U-20 level, Mewis won the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup,

After a stellar collegiate career at UCLA, Mewis played for several clubs during her pro career including Western New York Flash, North Carolina Courage, Kansas City Current, and Manchester City. She won the Women’s FA Cup during the 2019-20 season at Man City, alongside fellow USWNT teammates Carli Lloyd and Rose Lavelle.

She becomes the latest USWNT in recent months to announce their retirement from playing, joining Julie Ertz and Megan Rapinoe on that list.