American soccer star Megan Rapinoe announces she will retire at the end of the NWSL season
American women’s soccer star Megan Rapinoe is ready to retire after an illustrious career that saw her win an Olympic gold medal, win two World Cups and never shy away from her platform to bring social issues to the fore.
Rapinoe, 38, announced on Saturday that her fourth World Cup will be her last at the end of the month and that she will officially retire from the OL Reign at the end of the National Women’s Soccer League season.
She made the announcement on Twitter, saying she “never imagined how football would shape and change my life forever”.
“It is with a deep sense of peace and gratitude that I have decided that this will be my last season to play this wonderful game,” said Rapinoe.
It is with a deep sense of peace & gratitude that I have decided that this will be my last season playing this wonderful game. I could never have imagined how football & change my life forever, but by the look on this little girl’s face, she knew all along. pic.twitter.com/XGZ1T9i7Wy
Rapinoe and the US team will be aiming for a third straight title when the Women’s World Cup gets underway in Australia and New Zealand on July 20. The U.S. will play Wales in San Jose, California, on Sunday in a final match-up match before heading to the World Cup.
“I’ve been able to have such an incredible career, and this game has taken me all over the world and allowed me to meet so many amazing people,” Rapinoe said in a press release. “To be able to play one last World Cup and one last NWSL season and go out on my own terms is incredibly special.”
Rapinoe is tied with Abby Wambach for third all-time in assists for the U.S. Women’s National Team and is one of only seven players in team history to have more than 50 career goals and assists. She first played for the US senior team in 2006.
Rapinoe has played her entire 11-year NWSL career for the Reign. She scored the sixth most goals in league history with 48.
President Joe Biden, an outspoken advocate for equal pay in women’s soccer and supporter of LGBTQ rights, last year awarded Rapinoe the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.
According to US Soccer, Rapinoe was the first white athlete and the first woman to kneel during the national anthem in solidarity with former NFL player Colin Kaepernick.
She is engaged to be married to Sue Bird, the icon of women’s basketball.
“She produced so many memorable moments for her team and the fans on the field that will be remembered for a very long time, but her impact on people as a human being is perhaps even more important,” said Vlatko Andonovski, coach of the USA women’s national team. .
