NCAA Men's Goalkeeper Rankings (Preseason Fall 2023)

Seniors

1. Kris Shakes (Penn State)
2. James Lowell (Maryland)
3. Ryan Troutman (Louisville)
4. Lute Lillo Portero (Omaha, Spain)
5. Bryan Dowd (Notre Dame)
6. Holden Brown (Virginia)
7. Ryan Schewe (Georgetown)
8. Sam Fowler (Washington)
9. Eoin Gawronski (Long Island)
10. Michael Collodi (Columbia)

One to Watch: Eoin Gawronski. A bumpy time at Temple, filled with injuries and splitting time, is hopefully in the past for Gawronski as the Philadelphia Union product looks to reset with a transfer to Long Island University. Although not normally known as a soccer powerhouse, LIU has done well for themselves in the past few years and are primed for a breakout year. Several MLS and USL goalkeepers have come from smaller schools, so don’t be surprised to see Gawronski use this opportunity to make a name for himself, assuming he can stay healthy and lean on the basics that made him originally successful at Temple.

Juniors

1. Edu Rodriguez (Rhode Island, Spain)
2. Nate Crockford (Wisconsin)
3. Nathanael Sallah (Omaha, Germany)
4. Alex Lopez (Tulsa, Spain)
5. Alex Bobocea (Loyola (MD))
6. Trace Alphin (Wake Forest)
7. Blake Franzen (Liberty, South Africa)
8. Aurie Briscoe (Rutgers, Puerto Rico)
9. Wyatt Kistner (Florida Gulf Coast)
10. Conrad Lee (Yale)

One to Watch: Nathanael Sallah. Sallah has innumerable tools at his disposal but consistency has eluded him still. Although Sallah has notched 19 appearances for Omaha, he’s yet to nail down the starting spot. Complicating the situation is returning senior goalkeeper Lute Lillo Portero, who offers Omaha a high level of security in goal through steady play. Sallah must once again navigate limited opportunities to prove himself as not only the best goalkeeper at the university but one whom professional sides will be comfortable bringing in.

Sophomores

1. Jay Hibbert (Connecticut)
2. Casper Mols (Kentucky, Denmark)
3. Andrew Cordes (North Carolina)
4. Ben Alexander (South Carolina, Canada)
5. Mitchell Budler (Akron)
6. Juanvi Munoz (UCF, Spain)
7. Jack Morris (Stanford)
8. Luis Castillo (Oregon State, Spain)
9. Logan Erb (San Diego State)
10. Cabral Carter (Pittsburgh)

One to Watch: Jay Hibbert. Hibbert possesses a Zack Steffen-like poise wrapped up in a David de Gea-esque frame, showcasing an interesting blend of athleticism with a front-footed mindset. Hibbert earned early minutes for UConn last season, but the Huskies eventually leaned on graduate student Michael Stone to lead them through conference play. If Hibbert can refine the finer details of his unique approach, look for Hibbert to nail down the starting role in 2023 and potentially insert himself into the U23 discussion for the US’s Olympic run.

Freshmen

1. Julian Eyestone (Duke)
2. Wyatt Nelson (UCLA)
3. Justin Stewart (High Point)
4. Dan Rose (Marshall, Ireland)
5. Jude Bosshardt (Northwestern)
6. Caleb Tunks (Virginia)
7. Patrick Schott (Belmont, Germany)
8. Cody Lindeman (San Diego)
9. Zack Andoh (California)
10. Gavin Roberts (Lindenwood)

One to Watch: Wyatt Nelson. Nelson enters UCLA as one of the Sounders’ best goalkeeping prospects in years, if not the best ever. Additionally, wearing the Bruins badge comes with a certain level of expectation as UCLA was once known as a powerhouse for developing goalkeepers. However, UCLA currently has just two former goalkeepers in the pro ranks (Earl Edwards ’14, Justin Garces, ’22) and the Sounders have yet to earn a high return off of homegrown goalkeepers in over ten years of running the academy. A lot of hopes ride on Nelson reversing the tide for both UCLA and the Sounders academy, but he’ll first have to earn significant minutes in the next few months. Look for former alum and current UCLA goalkeeping coach Juan Cervantes to teach the youngster how to swim in the deep end.

Past Collegiate Goalkeeper Rankings

2022: Preseason and Final
2021: Preseason and Final
2020: Preseason and Final
2019: Preseason and Final
2018: Preseason and Final
2017: Preseason and Final
2016: Preseason and Final
2015: Preseason and Final
2014: Preseason and Final

The Top 50 USWNT-Eligible Goalkeepers

In conjunction with the USMNT depth chart, the top 50 is back with this summer’s best goalkeepers. Each goalkeeper is slotted by a number of factors: historical individual results, current individual level of play, and projected on-field performance. The top 50 attempts to remove exterior noise and team statistics to isolate the goalkeeper’s true ability. Each block of ten names features a player to watch, giving a small bio about the goalkeeper and what to look out for in the coming months.

To see how the top 100 rankings have evolved since March 2015, click here.

1. Bella Bixby, 27 - Portland Thorns FC
2. Aubrey Kingsbury, 31 - Washington Spirit
3. Alyssa Naeher, 35 - Chicago Red Stars
4. Phallon Tullis-Joyce, 26 - OL Reign
5. Jane Campbell, 28 - Houston Dash
6. Casey Murphy, 27 - North Carolina Courage
7. Katelyn Rowland, 29 - North Carolina Courage
8. Michelle Betos, 35 - Gotham FC
9. Emily Boyd, 26 - Chicago Red Stars
10. Katie Lund, 26 - Racing Louisville

One to Watch: Naeher’s replacement. As the 2023 World Cup looms, the chance of someone not named Alyssa Naeher starting for the US seems close to zero. The USWNT is slow to change (see the still relevant article on USWNT goalkeeping eras). However, following the World Cup/Olympics run, the US will most certainly look to fill Naeher’s placement immediately. For some reference, Canada’s Kailen Sheridan waited patiently until Stephanie Labbe retired and is now not only their starting goalkeeper but arguably the best in the world. The US has favored Casey Murphy, which puts her as the frontrunner to take Naeher’s place, but Bixby and Kingsbury have waited too long to not go down without a fight.

11. Cassie Miller, 28 - Kansas City Current
12. Lainey Burdett, 26 - Vittsjö (Sweden.1)
13. Adrianna Franch, 32 - Kansas City Current
14. Mandy Haught, 24 - Gotham FC
15. Jalen Tompkins, 26 - Valerenga (Norway.1)
16. Emily Dolan, 28 - Espanyol (Spain.2)
17. Carly Nelson, 25 - Orlando Pride
18. Samantha Murphy, 26 - Piteå (Sweden.1)
19. Katelin Talbert, 24 - Benfica (Portugal.1)
20. Shelby Hogan, 24 - Portland Thorns FC

One to Watch: Jalen Tompkins. The high flyer made a good name for herself in Norway with four trophies to her name. Now sitting convincingly in first place, as well as with Champions League matches coming up this summer, Tompkins will look to bolster her reputation even further. Although Valerenga was respectably rated as the 20th best team in Europe at the end of last year, it wouldn’t be hard to see Tompkins move to a top team in Europe. Although still over a year off, Tompkins could also venture a return to the States with the start of the USL’s Super League kicking off in August 2024.

21. Abby Smith, 29 - Gotham FC
22. Lindsey Harris, 29 - Free Agent
23. Ella Dederick, 26 - Houston Dash
24. Shae Yanez, 26 - San Diego Wave
25. Hillary Beall, 24 - Racing Louisville
26. Bridgette Skiba, 23 - Køge (Denmark.1)
27. Kaylan Marckese, 25 - Arsenal (England.1)
28. Brittany Isenhour, 25 - Angel City FC
29. Jordyn Bloomer, 25 - Racing Louisville
30. Kelsey Daugherty, 26 - Avaldsnes (Norway.1)

One to Watch: Lindsey Harris. For anyone that caught more than five minutes of TST’s highly publicized 7v7 tournament, they likely saw highlights of Harris repelling shot after shot. The quick reactions and “bet on yourself” ethos was the perfect setup to highlight her strengths at the tournament, despite instilling some chaos at times. Currently out of contract, Harris would be an ideal candidate for the USL Super League but she needs to keep traction until then. She’s spent time in Norway and Iceland before signing with the Houston Dash so don’t be surprised if she returns to Europe.

31. Kelly Rowswell, 25 - Valur (Iceland.1)
32. Devon Kerr, 26 - Houston Dash
32. Adelaide Gay, 33 - Fortuna Hjørring (Denmark.1)
33. Laurel Ivory, 23 - OL Reign
34. Aubrei Corder, 25 - Kalmar (Sweden.1)
35. Sophie Whitehouse, 26 - Lewes (England.2)
36. Kaylie Collins, 25 - Orlando Pride
37. Claudia Dickey, 23 - OL Reign
38. Alex Godinez, 29 - Monterrey (Mexico.1)
39. Macy Enneking, 22 - Iowa
40. Hannah Seabert, 28 - Sporting CP (Portugal.1)

One to Watch: OL Reign backups. With Tullis-Joyce holding onto the starting spot, sparse minutes for Dickey and Ivory won’t be enough to satisfy either competitor. Racing Louisville has done well to find matches for their backups with loans to Australia and the Nordic countries have historically been positive locations for many American goalkeepers, so there are opportunities out there. Hopefully, the Reign can help create avenues for their young prospects to continue their development, although having two same-aged goalkeepers is something that’s likely coming to an end, sooner or later.

41. Ruthie Jones, 22 - Duke
42. McKinley Crone, 24 - Orlando Pride Trailist
43. Jennifer Wandt, 24 - Trelleborgs FF (Sweden.2)
44. Jordan Silkowitz, 23 - Kansas City Current
45. Marisa Bova, 22 - North Carolina Courage
46. Angelina Anderson, 22 - Angel City FC
47. Kayla Thompson, 24 - Toluca (Mexico.1)
48. Savanna Mason, 24 - BYU
49. Cosette Morche, 26 - Valencia (Spain.1)
50. Monica Wilhelm, 23 - UMF Tindasoll (Iceland.1)

One to Watch: Monica Wilhelm. Although six goalkeepers heard their name called in the NWSL draft, Wilhelm took her talents to Iceland with newly promoted UMF Tindasoll. Tindasoll are currently sitting sixth out of ten clubs but can’t afford to drop even one spot if they wish to play in the championship round (Iceland’s form of playoffs). Wilhelm’s steady play has earned her a start every match, leading her team to a 2-2-2 record thus far. The Iowa grad will need to stay atop her game until Tindasoll’s offense starts clicking more consistently (only 5 goals in 6 matches) if they want to dream of a shot at the UCL.

Women's Goalkeeper Hall of Fame Bios (2020)

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2020 - Ingrid Hjelmseth (Norway, 138 caps / 125 WCT) - Hjelmseth’s route to becoming the national team starter was a long and tumultuous one. After Bente Nordby retired from the Norwegian national team in 2007, Hjelmseth overcame a string of injuries and a competitive goalkeeping core to eventually took over the starting role in 2009. At age 28, and only 16 caps to her name, Hjelmseth broke onto the scene in a surprise run during the 2009 Euro, in which an underdog Norway topped a heavily favored Swedish side 3-1 in route to a top-four finish. Although the 2011 World Cup would prove to be disappointing - the first and only time Norway didn’t advance out of the group stage to date - Hjelmseth and Noway would rebound in 2013. Three shutouts in the Four Nations Tournament, a third-place finish in the Algarve Cup, and a runner-up in the 2013 Euro re-established Norway on the international stage. Hjelmseth concluded her time with the national team in 2019, finishing with 138 caps to her name and an eighth-place finish at the 2019 World Cup.

Hjelmseth’s club career spanned twenty years with three Norwegian clubs. Throughout her time with Trondheims-Ørn (1999-06), Asker (2007-08), and Stabæk (2009-19), she won the Toppserien five times, the Norwegian Cup six times, and reached the Champions League quarterfinals three times. Hjelmseth played with a stunning combination of patience and bravery, consistently reading each attack in a precise manner and rarely relying on rash decision-making. Whether facing penalties, shots right under the crossbar or a chaotic play in the box, Hjelmseth’s competitive drive made it was clear why so many looked up to her as a leader within the team and an elite goalkeeper in the twenty-first century. Hjelmseth is the second Norwegian goalkeeper named to the Hall of Fame.

2021 - Rachel Brown-Finnis (England, 82 caps / 98 WCT) - One cannot talk about Brown’s journey to becoming England’s number without mentioning the number of times Brown overcame setbacks. At age seven, Brown wanted to play for her school but with no girls’ team available she was told, in Brown’s words, “OK, if you must play you'd better go in goal.” Brown’s path to the pro game was on the heels of being the only female player at an otherwise all-boys camp, being rewarded by David Seaman as the best player at the camp. Soon after signing with Liverpool, the young goalkeeper started in the 1996 FA Cup Final, as well as leading the club to a fourth-place finish in the Premier League in 1997 before heading off to the US for collegiate play.

Brown started at the University of Alabama before transferring to Pittsburgh, where she was named the 2000 Big East Goalkeeper of the Year. Upon returning to England in 2003, and being sidelined for a year and a half with a knee injury until the summer of 2005, Brown would switch Merseyside allegiances and join Everton, a club she would play for until 2014. With Brown at the helm, Everton finished in the top three in the league for eight straight seasons, regularly having one of - if not the - best defenses in the league. Everton made three trips to the UEFA Champions League and in 2010 Brown led the Blues over Arsenal 3-2 in the FA Cup Final.

Internationally, Brown bridged the gap between Pauline Cope and Karen Bardsley. Brown earned 11 caps before turning 21 years old, filling in when Cope was unavailable during Euro and World Cup qualifying campaigns from 1997-2001. Although the aforementioned knee injury in 2003 delayed her arrival, she earned her starting spot back for the last game in the group stage at the 2005 Euro. Brown would go on to start every match at the 2007 World Cup and 2009 Euro, finishing seventh and second, respectively. In the twilight of her career, Brown and Bardsley were named to the Great Britain roster for the 2012 Olympics, marking one of her proudest accomplishments in her professional career.

For a goalkeeper who emerged during a time when investment in goalkeeping was at a minimum, Brown continued to elevate the position through her fierce determination and self-belief for both club and country.


2022 - Sari van Veenendaal (Netherlands, 91 caps / 109 WCT) - In the summer of 2022, Sari van Veenendaal hung up her gloves, ending her career as one of the top goalkeepers in the history of the women’s game. While still young for the position at 32 years of age, she felt the “right moment” had come, presenting the opportunity to “explore new things.” The former Dutch international left behind a legacy adorned with the expected team trophies and personal accolades, having reached soaring heights at the club and international levels.

Born in the city of Nieuwegein, van Veenendaal played youth soccer with local side VSV Vreeswijk before signing a professional deal with FC Utrecht. After a few years as a back-up, she moved to FC Twente and received specialized training for the first time, enjoying the most active stretch of her club career with 112 appearances. Her tenure with The Tukkers includes winning the 2011 Eredivisie title, the KNVB Women’s Cup, and two consecutive BeNe League championships.

Strong performances led to increased interest, and van Veenendaal joined Arsenal, taking the starting job from Emma Byrne. Her English sojourn was successful, claiming the FA Women’s Super League, the FA Women’s Cup, and two FA WSL Cups. While with the Gunners, the goalkeeper took up the unique hobby of juggling before matches to relieve tension.

Out of contract in 2019, she then moved to Atlético Madrid as a free agent, believing the reigning Spanish champions “suited [her] best” and “offered all the conditions to further develop.” However, her time in the Primera División lasted a single season, desiring to return home. The following summer, van Veenendaal signed with PSV Eindhoven, citing the pull of being around family. Over two seasons, the goalkeeper made 39 appearances and played a key role in winning the KNVB Cup, the club’s first silverware, by stopping a penalty in the final.  

As an international, van Veenendaal made her senior Netherlands debut in 2011, earning 91 caps before her recent retirement. She held the number one role for numerous tournaments, including the triumphant run at the UEFA Women’s Euro 2017, surrendering a mere three goals and registering shutouts against England, Norway, and Sweden. For her performance, the goalkeeper was named to the Best XI.

The Oranje (Orange) had another successful run at the succeeding 2019 Women’s World Cup, falling in the final to the United States Women’s National Team by a 2-0 margin. Van Veenendaal was once again called in to play the hero several times. That year, she was cascaded by a bevy of honors, including Golden Gloves, Best FIFA Goalkeeper, International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) Best Women’s Goalkeeper, and IFFHS Women’s World Team. 

Unfortunately, van Veenendaal suffered a shoulder injury at the 2022 UEFA European Women’s Football Championship, leaving the opener against France in the 22nd minute. Following the Netherlands’ quarterfinal exit, she announced her retirement, having made her decision prior to the competition, taking several one-year contracts to facilitate a quick exit. A muted ending to her career belies the impact that was left on the field.

Van Veenendaal was an elite shot-stopper with the size and reflexes to cover the span of the goalmouth, possessing the composure to stare down all manner of point-blank opportunities. A reliable and no-nonsense competitor with excellent hands, she focused on limiting mistakes and the self-evident task of keeping the ball out of the goal. Dominating the six-yard box can be a bit of a throwback for the position, but mastery of the basics stands out among the flash of the modern game.

Her most famous performance came in the first half of that World Cup final against the United States Women’s National Team, pulling out four saves to keep proceedings level. Twice in quick succession she stopped Alex Morgan from close range, displaying the trademark composure and quick reflexes to deny the opponent. Stars build their legacies by producing on the biggest of stages, and van Veenendaal etched her name into the history books.

The Netherlands struggled prior to qualifying for the UEFA Women’s Championship in 2009, growing over the past decade into one of the world’s top programs. Van Veenendaal both benefited from and was partially responsible for the growth, rising to the thankless challenge of rectifying teammates’ errors. A crucial save in the 21st minute of a group stage fixture at EURO 2017 demonstrates her ability to quickly lock onto opponents at unexpected moments.

While her time atop the mountain was short, van Veenendaal made a profound impact and briefly reigned as the best in the goalkeeping kingdom. Performances on the international stage cemented her as one of football’s all-time greats, with peerless exhibitions of defense that pushed the Dutchwoman into the pantheon of stars. She retires from the sport and heads directly into the Hall of Fame.



2023 - Karen Bardsley (England, 81 caps / 92 WCT) - Some players are cursed with persistent injuries throughout their careers, often preventing the fulfillment of potential or driving them from the sport entirely. A rare few are able to overcome these issues and produce at a high level, indicating an inherent purity of talent and an unbreakable drive to climb the mountain. In addition to the traditional challenges and dearth of opportunities that once defined the women’s game, Karen Bardsley broke through the mire at every stage of her journey yet reached the pinnacle for both club and country.

Born in Santa Monica, California to English parents and raised in Chino Hills, Bardsley competed with AYSO, Chino Hills Nitemares, Upland Celtic, and So Cal Blues. Despite suffering a devastating injury during her junior year of high school, she rebounded with a strong senior season and was recruited by Cal State Fullerton. Her college career included a host of individual honors, including Big West Conference Freshman of the Year as well as multiple All-Big West First Team selections and Big West Goalkeeper of the Year awards.

After some time on the books at Ajax America Women and Pali Blues, Bardsley caught the attention of goalkeeping coach Paul Blodgett and was drafted by Sky Blue FC ahead of the inaugural Women’s Professional Soccer season. She spent three years in New Jersey but was challenged by a broken collar bone. Her journey then led to Linköpings FC in Sweden, making a mere three league appearances over two seasons.

Ahead of the 2013 season, Bardsley relocated to her ancestral home and joined the now-defunct Lincoln Ladies in the FA Women’s Super League. She featured in all 14 matches, helping the club reach the Leagues Cup final (then known as the Continental Cup) and avoid relegation. As would become a constant refrain throughout her career, her two saves in the semifinal round shootout secured victory over favored and eventual league champions Liverpool.

Her success in England led to a move to recently professionalized Manchester City, initially on a two-year deal, a tenure that began with a stress factor in her foot. In her first full season, Bardsley led the club to the 2014 Leagues Cup, crafting a shutout in the 1-0 final victory over Everton. During her eight years with the Blues, she collected a slew of trophies, including three additional Leagues Cups (her two penalty saves helped secure the 2019 Continental League Cup in a 4-2 shootout victory over Arsenal), three FA Cups, and the 2016 Women’s Super League title. The 20-year playing career ended at the age of 37, with the now-retired British-American assuming the role of girls’ academy manager at the Etihad.

At the international level, Bardsley is a dual-national eligible for the United States through birth and England due to her parents’ heritage, opting to represent the latter nation beginning with the youth squads and making her senior debut in March of 2005 at the Algarve Cup. She saw the field with England at three FIFA Women’s World Cups (2011, 2015, and 2019) and two UEFA Women’s Euro tournaments (2013 and 2017), while serving as backup at EURO 2009 and suiting up for Great Britain at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

The bronze finish at the 2015 World Cup served as the high-water mark for her career with two sterling performances, the first in a 2-1 win against Colombia in the final Group F match. Bardsley sacrificed her body to make a crucial stop on a Carolina Arias breakaway. After the match, she claimed to have anticipated the attempted lob and “made [herself] as big” as possible, using her “beak” to produce the save.

Her performance in the third-place game, a 1-0 result over a potent Germany side, helped secure what was at the time the program’s best finish at the World Cup and first-ever victory over the European rival in 31 years of competition. Her seven varied saves maintained the clean sheet, but the standout was a 53rd-minute reflex stop on a close-range volley from Sara Däbritz. In a tightly contested match that required mettle and near perfection, she rose to the challenge with poise, technique, athleticism, and big-game execution that defined her career.

Bardsley collected 86 caps for England and Great Britain while also registering 103 appearances with Manchester City. In addition to claiming eight trophies with the Blues, she produced shutouts in three out of four major club finals. FIFA named her to the World Cup All-Star squad due to her stellar performance at the 2015 tournament.

Described as an “absolute top-class goalkeeper” who was a “commanding shot-stopper” and a real leader at the back,” her perfectionist nature enabled her to handle the sport’s expected challenges and overcome the unfortunate predisposition of medical issues. Bardsley modeled her game off of former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, utilizing her unique combination of size and coordination. Despite making the move later in her career, she cites the move to Manchester City and the club’s goalkeeper coach as helping her game “evolve from the old-school style to a modern style of goalkeeping,” with improvement in the progressive-possession style that has taken over the sport.

Bardsley may lack the trophy haul of some of her contemporaries, but she made a defined impact on the game. She was a key player for England as The Lionesses transitioned over a decade from a developing program into an international powerhouse. While many careers end in the unanswerable “What if?”, the Englishwoman from California lived up to her potential and exhibited moments of sublime talent on the field.



2024 - Stephanie Labbé (Canada, 86 caps / 91 WCT) - With a decorated career lasting over a decade, Stephanie Labbé experienced soaring heights with Canada and also fought to disrupt the established orthodoxy. The recently retired goalkeeper was a model for consistency in nature and deed, with a lengthy résumé as proof.

Born in Edmonton, Alberta and raised in the small town of Stony Plain, Labbé competed with Spruce Grove Composite High School, Spruce Grove Saints, Millwoods Warriors, and Edmonton Aviators, not fully committing to the goalkeeper position until the age of 17; the teenager also featured for Canada at the youth level, winning the 2004 U-19 CONCACAF Women’s Championship. After delaying enrollment, she matriculated to the University of Connecticut and spent the majority of her collegiate career as the starter after grabbing the spot during her freshman year – her summers were spent with amateur side New England Mutiny, then in the Women’s Premier Soccer League. Her lengthy list of accolades includes being named NSCAA All-Northeast Region, NEWISA All-New England First Team, and Big East Goalkeeper of the Year as a senior. 

Labbé began her professional career in Sweden with Piteå IF, enduring the valleys and peaks of European football in three seasons with relegation out of the Damallsvenskan, promotion from the second division, and returning to the top tier for another run. She then jumped to KIF Örebro DFF, maintaining her role as the number one for three years. In her final campaign, the club secured a second-place finish in the domestic league and qualified for the Champions League, while her performances garnered Best XI honors.

After six years in Europe, Labbé returned to North America and signed with the Washington Spirit in the National Women’s Soccer League. In her first season, she made eight appearances and registered five shutouts. The following campaign involved 17 matches, with her performances twice earning Team of the Month honors – however, a leave of absence saw her temporarily step away from the game, with the club eventually surrendering her contract rights. 

Labbé then linked up with Calgary Foothills F.C. and made the bold move of attempting to play with the men’s team in the amateur USL Premier Development League (now known as League Two), believing that the competition would better prepare her for future Canada challenges. With the manager praising her as “world class,” she earned a spot on the team but was denied entry due to “gender-based eligibility requirements.” The brief experience training with the club saw her becoming a stronger player with “quicker hands” and “smarter passes,” demonstrating the artificially self-imposed nature of some of the limitations on her game and perhaps the women’s sporting world at large.

A few months later, Labbé returned to Sweden, signing with Linköpings FC. Her brief tenure included 12 combined league and cup appearances. Continuing her peripatetic journey, Labbé signed with North Carolina Courage of the NWSL, making 17 appearances in her first season and helping lead the club to the NWSL Shield and playoff titles.

In the twilight of her career, Labbé had another run in Sweden, showcasing in 17 fixtures for FC Rosengård. The goalkeeper then spent her final year as a back-up for Paris Saint-Germain in what was then known as the Division 1 Féminine. She featured six times before retiring from the professional game.

After debuting for Canada at the senior level in July of 2008, Labbé enjoyed a decorated run that included two Olympic medals and inclusion on three World Cup squads. Her breakout performance came during the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, having been considered the third-string option a year prior to the competition. Labbé started in five of six matches and surrendered a mere four goals, including a stirring performance in the 2-0 opening victory against Australia. She then captured the bronze with a 2-1 victory over hosts Brazil, making a crucial save at the end of the first half.

Her performance was topped at the next Olympic Games, leading Canada to the first gold medal in program history. After suffering an injury in the opener to the hosts and sitting out a group stage fixture, Labbé registered clean sheets against Brazil and the United States in the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds, respectively. With the final against Sweden deadlocked in a 1-1 draw at the end of regulation after a few key saves, she pulled off two huge stops during the ensuing penalty shootout, including an acrobatic low dive on the penultimate attempt following some entertaining gamesmanship.

On the field, Labbé was an energetic goalkeeper who could shift into a save position with a high level of agility, able to adjust at a moment’s notice to the harshest of redirections. Getting to low shots was a particular area of strength, with excellent footwork on long-range shot attempts and quick reactions on penalties. She was noted as an excellent passer who led the build-up and made intelligent decisions in possession with a high level of composure. Her work on crosses was strong and resolute, with an ability to take heavy contact from the opponent and maintain her grasp on the ball.

From a conventional perspective, the high watermark of Labbé’s career was capturing the gold medal at the 2020 Olympic Games. Her standout performance carried Canada to glory, despite dealing with injuries that would have derailed many players suffering from similar issues. However, her career is also a testament to consistency, grit, and a willingness to push the boundaries, whether fighting her way through Europe or attempting to play at higher and higher levels. She enters the Hall of Fame having made an indelible impact on the game: achieving greatness and always pushing in order to reach new heights.



Click here to return to the main page for the complete list of goalkeepers

Women's Goalkeeper Hall of Fame

The Women’s Goalkeeper Hall of Fame honors the top goalkeepers in the history of women’s football. Starting in 1990, the Hall of Fame retroactively inducted the most qualified retired goalkeeper from each respective year and continued forward with an annual recipient. Eligible goalkeepers for the Hall of Fame are evaluated on their international and domestic accolades and the goalkeeper’s overall ability.

To help evaluate a goalkeeper’s playing career with proper context, Weighted Cap Total (WCT) is used as a guideline. WCT balances a player’s international appearances based on the number of available games during the player’s ages from 19-34 to show if the player’s cap count is inflated (due to an above-average amount of available games to play) or undervalued (due to a lack of available games). For example, if player A had the opportunity to play in 500 games during their career while player B only had 125 available matches, player A’s WCT would be cut in half while player B’s would be doubled, as the latter had fewer opportunities to receive caps.

Each goalkeeper is listed with their current cap total, their WCT, and highlights from their career. To learn more about each goalkeeper and why they’re considered one of the best goalkeepers of all time, click their name to read a short biography on their playing career.

Legend

* - estimates
RU = runner-up
SF = semifinal
WC = World Cup
Oly - Olympics
QF - Qualifying

Year Goalkeeper Country Caps WCT Major Accomplishments
1990 Annie Hastie England --- --- Dick, Kerr Ladies FC
1991 Wilma Seghetti Italy 35* 83* '70 WC RU, '79 Euro RU
1992 Birte Kjems Denmark 12* 48* 1971 WC Winner
1993 Marianne Riis Denmark 27 84 1979 Euro Winner
1994 Sue Buckett England 30 170 8x FA Cup Winner
1995 Theresa Wiseman England 60 167 1984 Euro RU
1996 Elisabeth Leidinge Sweden 112 239 '84 Euro Winner, '91 WC 3rd
1997 Marion Isbert Germany 58 85 '89/91 Euro Winner, '95 WC RU
1998 Manuela Goller Germany 45 47 '95 WC RU, '95 Euro Winner
1999 Eva Russo Italy 57 87 '84/86 Mundalito Winner
2000 Leslie King New Zealand 28 115 1991 WC Standout
2001 Margarete Pioresan Brazil 22* 212* 1996 Olympics 4th
2002 Daniela Sogliani Italy 27 71 1971 WC 3rd
2003 Giorgia Brenzan Italy 111 168 '93/97 Euro RU
2004 Gao Hong China 110* 114* '96 Olympics RU, '99 WC RU
2005 Pauline Cope England 60 114 '95 Euro SF, '95 WC 7th
2006 Svetlana Petko Russia 144 199 '99 WC 5th, '97/01 Euro
2007 Stefania Antonini Italy 32 44 '91 WC 6th, 5x Serie A Champ
2008 Marleen Wissink Netherlands 141 230 4x Euro QF, 6x Bundesliga Champ
2009 Silke Rottenberg Germany 125 124 '03 WC Winner, '00/04 Oly 3rd
2010 Bente Nordby Norway 172 159 '95 WC Winner, '00 Oly Winner
2011 Briana Scurry USA 175 125 '96/04 Oly Winner, '99 WC Winner
2012 Sandrine Roux France 70 127 6x French League Champ, '97 Euro 6th
2013 Caroline Jönsson Sweden 80 72 '01 Euro RU, '03 WC RU
2014 Carla Brunozzi Italy 55 66 3x Serie A, 2x Italian Cup
2015 Ursula Holl Germany 5 4 2x UEFA CL, 3x Bundesliga Champ
2016 Nadine Angerer Germany 146 134 '07 WC Winner, 2013 FIFA POTY
2017 Hope Solo USA 202 119 '15 WC Winner, '08/12 Oly Winner
2018 Emma Byrne Ireland 134 256 11x English League Champion
2019 Precious Dede Nigeria 99 182 '04 Oly 6th, 4x WC Starter
2020 Ingrid Hjelmseth Norway 138 125 2013 Euro RU, 2009 Euro SF
2021 Rachel Brown-Finnis England 82 98 '10 FA Cup, '07 WC 7th, '09 Euro 2nd
2022 Sari van Veenendaal Netherlands 91 109 '17 Euro, '19 WC RU, '19 World Best XI
2023 Karen Bardsley England 81 92 '15 WC 3rd, 8 trophies w/Man City
2024 Stephanie Labbé Canada 86 91 '16 Oly 3rd, '19 NWSL, '21 Oly Gold