Two of the most electrifying and decorated figures in the history of the U.S. Women’s National Team have officially reached soccer immortality.

On May 1, 2026, Tobin Heath and Heather O’Reilly headline a star-studded class officially inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame during a private ceremony at Toyota Stadium. Both players achieved the incredibly rare feat of being voted in during their very first year of eligibility, joining MLS legends Chris Wondolowski and Tony Sanneh, indoor icon Kevin Crow, and pioneering referee Kari Seitz in the Class of 2026.

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Two Eras of USWNT Dominance

For nearly two decades, Heath and O’Reilly defined the relentless, winning culture of the USWNT, combining for five Olympic Gold medals and three FIFA Women’s World Cup titles.

Heather O’Reilly: The Ultimate Teammate

O’Reilly’s international career spanned from 2002 to 2016, a 231-cap masterclass in work ethic, vertical pace, and elite wing play. A fundamental pillar of the 2015 World Cup-winning squad and a three-time Olympic Gold medalist (2004, 2008, 2012), O’Reilly was revered just as much for her leadership as her 47 international goals.

In her emotional acceptance speech, O’Reilly highlighted her pride in adapting to whatever the team required of her over her 14-year international career:

“I took so much pride in being a good teammate from whatever role I played, from the days I was scoring hat tricks in high school soccer and called a prodigy to the seasoned veteran knowing it’s time to pass the torch and everything in between. I tried to pull up and not push down. And it’s the plays that I made coming off the bench that bring me some of the most pride, because not everyone can do that.”

Tobin Heath: The Magician in the Attack

Known across the globe for her breathtaking skill, creativity, and ankle-breaking technical ability, Tobin Heath was the artistic heartbeat of the USWNT attack across 181 appearances. The 2016 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year won back-to-back World Cups in 2015 and 2019, alongside two Olympic Golds (2008, 2012).

Heath’s speech touched beautifully on the profound grief of stepping away from the pitch as a player, and the newfound purpose she has found in pushing the women’s game forward alongside her wife and former teammate, Christen Press:

“When football was taken from me, I realized that was a death… Through that grief, what I realized is I’m actually given so much more. I’m actually not defined by one team or one crest or one club. Now what I can give to the game is beyond anything I could do as a player… I sure do miss playing, but what I will say is that I am so happy to be alive, and I am so happy to be able to spend the rest of my life and everything that I have to give back to this beautiful game and push it even further.”

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A Historic Class

The induction of Heath and O’Reilly further cements the legacy of the USWNT’s “Golden Generation,” ensuring that two players who gave everything to the growth of the domestic and international game will have their names permanently etched in the sport’s history.

With their red Hall of Fame jackets securely tailored, Heath and O’Reilly transition from the pitch to the gallery, forever celebrated as standard-bearers of American soccer excellence.