Megan Rapinoe: American football star retires after NWSL season

CHICAGO –

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 and that she will officially retire from the OL Reign at the end of the National Women’s Soccer League season.

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 US will play Wales in California on Sunday in a final tune-up game before heading to the World Cup.

“I’m just really thankful to be able to do it this way,” Rapinoe said ahead of the game in San Jose, California. “I understand that it is incredibly rare that athletes of any size can go out in their own way, on their own terms, at the time they want, in a way that feels really peaceful and familiar to them.

“So I just wanted to do it now and frankly get a little bit out of the way before we go to New Zealand so we can focus on the task at hand, which is winning another World Cup.”

At the 2019 World Cup in France, Rapinoe scored six goals throughout the tournament, including a penalty in a 2–0 win over the Netherlands in the final. She also finished with three assists and claimed the Golden Boot and Golden Ball for best overall player. Rapinoe also won the Ballon d’Or and the Best FIFA Women’s Player awards – the game’s highest individual honors – for her play in 2019.

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.

“I don’t even think there are words to say what she has done for the growth of football in this country, and not just in this country worldwide,” said American striker Sophia Smith. “She’s a legend. … So it’s a really sad and bittersweet time. But I’m excited to be able to take this final journey with her in the World Cup and see all the great things she does beyond her career.”