USWNT's 3-Time Olympic Gold-Medal Winner Heather O'Reilly Announces Retirement

United States women's national team great Heather O'Reilly announced Friday that she will retire at the end of the soccer season in a post on social media.

The 34-year-old, who won three Olympic gold medals and the 2015 Women's World Cup, explained her decision in a post on Instagram:

"On the day before the start of the 2019 NWSL season, I would like to share that this is going to be my last season as a professional player! It's been a long and beautiful ride. For the last 17 years I have competed at the elite level, beginning as a teenager on the USWNT.

"I've played with and against the best players on the planet, and have won many trophies along the way with UNC, the U.S. Women's National Team, and various professional teams. My tank is not empty yet. I am looking forward to helping the North Carolina Courage this season continue to raise the level for women's football in the U.S. and globally."

O'Reilly also confirmed she will be working at the 2019 Women's World Cup in France as a studio analyst for Fox as the USWNT goes in search of its fourth world title.

The midfielder enjoyed a stellar career with the national team, and her 231 appearances make her one of the USWNT's most-capped players:

The 34-year-old made the final outing for the U.S. in September 2016, scoring in a 9-0 thrashing of Thailand. O'Reilly also grabbed an assist to tie Julie Foudy in the list of the nation's top assisters:

Football writer Rachael McKriger hailed the impact O'Reilly has made on the women's game:

The UNC alum will see out the season with her club side, the North Carolina Courage, who enjoyed a superb 2018 in which they convincingly won the NWSL championship and lost just once.

The Courage also won the inaugural International Champions Cup women's tournament, beating Lyon 1-0 thanks to a goal from O'Reilly.

The New Jersey native also picked up silverware at spells with Sky Blue FC, FC Kansas City and Arsenal before joining the Courage in 2018. 

O'Reilly's final playing season is due to start Saturday when the Courage begin the defence of their NWSL title at home to the Chicago Red Stars.