Carli Lloyd enters retirement after final NWSL game

Carli Lloyd’s professional soccer career came to an end on Sunday in Gotham FC’s 1-0 quarterfinal loss to the Chicago Red Stars.

The 39-year-old veteran announced her retirement from the sport in August following the Tokyo Olympics, saying then that she would play out the rest of the NWSL season. Lloyd finished her storied career with the U.S. women’s national team in October with a historic farewell match in Saint Paul, Minn.

#ThankYouCarli
pic.twitter.com/Zwq92jchu9

— NJ/NY Gotham FC (@GothamFC) November 7, 2021

After Sunday’s playoff loss, Lloyd told CBS that she was really proud of her Gotham teammates and how the group helped turn the club around.

“Although I won’t be on the field ever again, I’m going to help this game grow and try to be a part of anything I possibly can to keep this sport growing,” she said.

The 🐐 sounds off for the final time 😢

Thank you for everything, @CarliLloyd 👏 pic.twitter.com/cqh7Us5Hfm

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) November 7, 2021