Heather O'Reilly
Heather Ann O'Reilly (born January 2, 1985) is an American professional women's soccer player who plays as a midfielder for the North Carolina Courage. She played for the United States women's national soccer team (USWNT), with whom she won three Olympic gold medals and a FIFA Women's World Cup. From 2003 to 2006, she played college soccer for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH). During her club career, O'Reilly played for the New Jersey Wildcats (USL W-League), Sky Blue FC (WPS), Boston Breakers (WPSL Elite and NWSL), FC Kansas City (NWSL), Arsenal Ladies (FA WSL), North Carolina Courage (NWSL), and Shelbourne (WNL).
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Heather O'Reilly with her 2012 Olympics gold medal | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Heather Ann O'Reilly | ||
| Date of birth | January 2, 1985 | ||
| Place of birth | East Brunswick, New Jersey, United States | ||
| Height | 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder/winger | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | North Carolina Courage | ||
| Number | 7 | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2003–2006 | North Carolina Tar Heels | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2004–2005 | New Jersey Wildcats | 9 | (8) |
| 2009–2011 | Sky Blue FC | 50 | (4) |
| 2012–2014 | Boston Breakers | 44 | (14) |
| 2015–2016 | FC Kansas City | 27 | (3) |
| 2017–2018 | Arsenal | 24 | (3) |
| 2018–2019 | North Carolina Courage | 21 | (1) |
| 2022 | Shelbourne | 4 | (0) |
| 2023 | North Carolina Courage | ||
| International career | |||
| United States U-19 | |||
| United States U-21 | |||
| 2002–2016 | United States | 231 | (47) |
Medal record | |||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Upon her initial retirement from international play in September 2016, she is one of the world's most capped soccer players with over 230 international appearances to her name. She is a skilled flank player, currently tied for fifth with Julie Foudy in USWNT history for assists. She is also the eighth most capped player in USWNT history. On October 27, 2019, she played her final match for the North Carolina Courage before retiring, winning the 2019 NWSL championship.
She is currently an analyst for Fox Sports. O'Reilly announced on July 28, 2022, that she would be coming out of retirement to play for Women's National League side Shelbourne and take part in their upcoming UEFA Women's Champions League campaign. She scored a match-winning goal against ZNK Pomurje on her debut.
As of 2023, O'Reilly is a volunteer assistant coach for the North Carolina Tar Heels women's soccer team and player-coach for the North Carolina Courage U23 side competing in the USL W League.