Boxx, Holiday, Chalupny to end USWNT careers on Victory Tour
CHICAGO (Via U.S. Soccer) – U.S. Women’s National Team veterans Shannon Boxx, Lauren Holiday and Lori Chalupny, all of whom announced their international retirements earlier this year, will play their final matches for the USA during the team’s October’s matches against Brazil.
Boxx will play her final match on Oct. 21 when the USA faces Brazil at CenturyLink Field in Seattle (6:30 pm PT on ESPN2/WatchESPN). Holiday and Chalupny will play their final matches on Oct. 25 against Brazil at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando (2:30 pm ET on FOX Sports 1/FOX Sports GO). Both games are part of the Women’s National Team Victory Tour.
All three players will be honored before their respective final matches and Boxx will travel with the team to Orlando.
“It’s important that we honor these players and celebrate their amazing careers,” said U.S. head coach Jill Ellis. ”All three have played a major role in the writing of this team’s history and have been a part of some of our greatest successes. They will be missed as people and players.”
Holiday, 28, recently won her second consecutive NWSL title with FC Kansas City, helping her club defeat the Seattle Reign, 1-0, in her final professional club match. She has played 132 games for the USA while scoring 24 goals, none bigger than what turned out to be the game-winner during the 5-2 victory against Japan in 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup Final.
“It’s been an amazing year and I feel blessed to have had these wonderful experiences at the end of my career,” said Holiday. “The Victory Tour has been fun, but now feels like a good time to say goodbye and it’s great to have the last game be against a quality team like Brazil. I’m going to miss this team, but I’m also super excited about what lies ahead and really looking forward to celebrating this last game with my teammates and the fans.”
Boxx, 38, has 194 caps and 27 goals and has represented the USA in four Women’s World Cup tournaments and three Olympic Games. She finished third in the voting for FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year in 2005 and was named to two Women’s World Cup All-Star Teams. She made a remarkable comeback back from the birth of her daughter, as well as from injuries and illness, to make her final Women’s World Cup Team in 2015.
“I feel like it’s the right time and I’m feeling really comfortable about the end of my career,” said Boxx. “After winning the World Cup, I don’t feel like there is anything left to accomplish and I’m proud I was able to make a final comeback and help the team. I’m just really excited to be on the field one more time with my teammates and play in front of my family. Out of all the big games I’ve played and major tournaments I’ve been a part of, the thing I will miss the most is being around my teammates in such a competitive environment that was also still a family atmosphere. That will be hard to replicate and I’m just thankful to have been a part of that for all these years.”
Lori Chalupny (center right) and Shannon Boxx (right) with long-time teammates Abby Wambach (left) and Carli Lloyd after winning the 2015 Algarve Cup.
Chalupny, 31, who has 105 caps and 10 goals, made a return to the U.S. team at the end of 2014 after being away for almost five years due to concussion issues. She has yet to make a final decision on continuing to play in the NWSL next season.
“There is of course some sadness to see this chapter of my life come to an end, but it’s also a happy time to look back at all the fantastic experiences I’ve had through soccer,” said Chalupny. “It’s great to get the opportunity to play one last game with your friends and to be able to go out on your own terms is a cool thing and certainly something to be appreciated.”
