Many consider Shannon Boxx says she will retire at the end of the year. (Copyright Patricia Giobetti for The Equalizer)
Shannon Boxx announced on Saturday that she will retire at the end of the calendar year.
Boxx turned 38 years old on June 29, one week before she and the United States won the 2015 Women’s World Cup.
“I’m going to be done at the end of the year,” Boxx said in a press conference prior to the Chicago Red Stars’ home match against the Boston Breakers. The Red Stars midfielder clarified that she will be done at the end of the calendar year.
“I would definitely like to continue playing through the victory tour and just trying to enjoy the last moments of playing, but I definitely want to continue to be part of the game as much as possible. But I definitely think my time has come (to) pass the torch and enjoy my family.”
Boxx played 16 minutes for the U.S. at the 2015 World Cup, in the group stage against Nigeria.
The NWSL regular season ends in September, with the final set for Oct. 1. The United States women’s national team will play 10 matches on the World Cup victory tour, which begins on August 16 against Costa Rica in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Boxx played in three games for Chicago prior to the World Cup; she checked into Saturday’s match in the 84th minute. She only played in two games last year and in five games in 2013.
Boxx played in four Women’s World Cups, beginning in 2003, when she became the first U.S. player to make a World Cup roster without having earned a cap. She was a finalist for FIFA World Player of the Year in 2005. Boxx was part of all three of the past Olympics rosters for the U.S., which won gold medals each time.
Boxx played in all nine U.S. professional seasons to date: Three in the WUSA, three in WPS and three in the NWSL. She played with the San Diego Spirit in 2001 and 2002 before playing for the New York Power in 2003. In WPS, Boxx started her tenure with the Los Angeles Sol in 2009, before playing for Saint Louis Athletica and FC Gold Pride in 2010. She was forced to move on from all three teams due to their respective collapses. Boxx played for the infamous magicJack club in 2011 before that league folded. She spent all three NWSL seasons with Chicago.
Midfielder Lauren Holiday is the only other U.S. player from the 2015 World Cup roster to formally announce her retirement. Christie Rampone, who turned 40 last month, says she’ll attempt to play in the 2016 Olympics “if my body holds up.” U.S. forward Abby Wambach, who turned 35 last month, has dodged retirement questions in the aftermath of the World Cup.
