Tobin Heath, one of the most prolific attackers in U.S. Women’s National Team history and a player beloved by fans for her skillful, aestheticand joyful play with the ball, has announced her retirement from professional soccer.
Heath earned her first U.S. Women’s National Team cap in January 2008. From there, she went on to win two FIFA Women’s World Cups (2015, 2019) and three Olympic medals — gold in 2008, 2012 and bronze in 2021.
Her storied career ends with 181 caps, 36 goals and 42 assists. In a career cut a bit short by various serious injuries, she has not played for the USWNT since 2021, and her final match was a 19-minute performance against South Korea on Oct. 26 of that year, a match in which she appropriately had an assist.
The winger/midfielder is one of 25 players to tally more than a combined 50 goals and assists. Heath ranks top 20 all-time caps and goals in program history. She was named the U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year in 2016.
"I never played to be famous or for people to care about me," Heath said on The RE—CAP Show podcast announcing the news. "I just played because I loved it."
Perhaps her greatest moment with the National Team came in one of the biggest moments of her career. Heath scored in the 2015 World Cup Final against Japan, putting the final touches on a 5-2 victory to earn the USWNT’s third star atop its crest.
It was one of the many childhood dream moments that she got to live out on the world stage. Heath was well-known for her creativity and elite technical skill with the ball. Her style of play embodied that free, childlike wonder, but she brought that to life as an intense student of the game. When Heath was on the field, a nutmeg, a slick dribble or a clever pass was never too far away.
At the professional club level, Heath won two NWSL Championships —including the inaugural trophy in 2013 — with Portland Thorns FC, where she spent seven seasons. She spent a short stint in Europe playing for Manchester United and Arsenal in the Women’s Super League from 2020-22. She finished her club career with Seattle Reign FC.
In 2022, Heath suffered what turned out to be a career-ending knee injury. Heath described her emotional journey to acceptance on the podcast co-hosted with her partner, and former USWNT teammate, Christen Press. It took years of processing, but Heath finally came to the point of acceptance at the beginning of 2025.
Now, Heath, 37, calls an official end to her legendary 17-year professional soccer career — one that helped change the game forever.
