American Stars Who Have Won the UEFA Women’s Champions League

Numerous stars from the United States women`s national team have pursued careers in Europe, often motivated by the opportunity to compete in the UEFA Women`s Champions League. This competition offers a unique challenge not found in the NWSL. While many have played in Europe, only a select few have managed to lift the coveted UWCL trophy.

Winning the UWCL is a rare achievement for American players, placing them in an elite group. The relatively short duration of many U.S. players` European stints makes this accomplishment particularly difficult. Nevertheless, a handful have achieved this feat, while many others have come incredibly close, only to be defeated in the final match.

Which USWNT stars have played in Europe?

A long list of USWNT players have had stints in European leagues. Early pioneers included Hope Solo and Aly Wagner, who joined Lyon in 2005 before the club reached its current dominant status. France has been a popular destination, hosting big names like Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe, and Lindsey Horan spent several years there.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, England`s Women`s Super League became an attractive option for American players due to the NWSL`s adjusted schedule. While many returned to the U.S. afterwards, some current national team members, such as Catarina Macario and Mia Fishel, play for English clubs like Chelsea.

Historically, Sweden`s Damallsvenskan also attracted many top players, including Americans, before it shifted more towards player development. Furthermore, two American stars achieved European championship glory while playing for a German club in 2008.

Which USWNT players have won the UEFA Women's Champions League?

Ali Krieger and Gina Lewandowski were the first Americans to lift the UEFA Women`s Champions League trophy. They were part of the FFC Frankfurt (now Eintracht Frankfurt) squad that defeated Swedish side Umea 4-3 on aggregate in the 2008 final, which was played over two legs at the time. Both players featured in defense for the German team in both matches, securing a 1-1 draw in Sweden and a 3-2 home victory the following week. Krieger had already debuted for the USWNT earlier that year, while Lewandowski earned her single cap seven years later.

Alex Morgan joined this exclusive list in 2017 during a brief loan spell with Lyon. She concluded her time in France by winning a Champions League medal, contributing 12 goals in 15 appearances across all competitions and starting the UWCL final against Paris Saint-Germain before being substituted early due to injury.

Five years later, in 2022, two more USWNT stars celebrated a UWCL victory with Lyon. Lindsey Horan and Catarina Macario were both in the starting lineup as the French powerhouse defeated Barcelona 3-1 in Turin. Macario even found the net in the 33rd minute, helping Lyon comfortably clinch their record eighth European title.

Which USWNT stars have lost a UEFA Women's Champions League final?

Several other American players have reached the final but fallen short of victory. Megan Rapinoe was in the Lyon side that lost 1-0 to Wolfsburg in the 2013 final. The German club also denied victory to three more USWNT players the following year: Christen Press, Whitney Engen, and Meghan Klingenberg were all part of the Tyreso team that suffered a narrow 4-3 defeat in the thrilling 2014 final.

While Gina Lewandowski won the final in 2008, she also experienced defeat. Her FFC Frankfurt team returned to the final in 2012 but lost 2-0 to Lyon. A win would have made her the first, and currently only, American to win the UWCL twice.

Lindsey Horan also had a chance to become the first multiple American winner in 2024 when she reached the final again with Lyon. However, Barcelona secured a 2-0 victory in Bilbao, getting revenge for the 2022 final.

Other Americans who played in and lost a UWCL final include Stacey Pearson (Fortuna Hjorring, 2003) and Venus James (Djurgarden, 2005), although neither was capped at the senior USWNT level.