Icon Megan Rapinoe Announces Intent to Retire From Professional Soccer

Heroine Megan Anna Rapinoe was born and raised in small town USA: Redding, California. The gifted all-around athlete since her youth, Rapinoe has formally announced that she will wrap up her career after she participates in her final World Cup in New Zealand and Australia, and as the leader of her North American Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) side OL Reign in Tacoma, Washington.

Rapinoe will step away from her illustrious career as undoubtedly one of the most impactful and dramatic figures in the history of the women’s game.

In addition to her contributions to the growth and development of global women’s sports, Rapinoe is a spirited champion of numerous societal causes including gender and racial inequality, gay and voter rights and pay equity.

Activist Rapinoe supports numerous LGBTQIA+ organizations, including the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network and Athlete Ally. 

In 2013, she received the Board of Directors Award from the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center. Rapinoe was included in Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2020.

On July 7 2022, President Joseph Biden awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor during a White House ceremony.

“When she stands on a podium, we see what she is: Absolute courage to turn personal pain into greater purpose. To stand up and speak for those who cannot speak for themselves,” Biden said.

He continued, “Beyond the World Cup title to Olympic medals, Megan is a champion for essential American truth that everyone is entitled to be treated with dignity and respect. She helped lead the change for perhaps the most important victory for anyone on our soccer team or any soccer team: equal pay for women.”

In 2016, Rapinoe joined with four other National Team players and filed an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint against the U.S. Soccer Federation, alleging gender discrimination. In 2019, members of the team followed suit and leveled a complaint highlighting years of gender discrimination in pay, medical treatment and overall workload. 

Three years later, the team settled their class action equal pay lawsuit against the Federation for a total of $24 million.

In 2012 Rapinoe publicly came out as gay. She has been an outspoken and passionate advocate for gay rights since. She is engaged to be married to women’s basketball icon and American Olympian Sue Bird.

Rapinoe was also the first white athlete and first female to kneel during the national anthem in solidarity with NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

When on the pitch, “Pinoe” as she is called by her mates, has dazed and confused her opponents with a multitude of deceptive moves, bursts of speed and her goal scoring abilities. She models grit and determination to hundreds of thousands of rising soccer players and supporters; many of whom now emulate her assertive play, and colorful hair styles when cheering her on from their stadium seats.

“Megan Rapinoe is one of the most important players in women’s soccer history and a personality like no other,” said U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) head coach Vlatko Andonovski.

“She has 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 may be even more important. It’s been a wonderful experience to coach her in the NWSL and for the National Team and I’m looking forward to her being an important part of our team at the World Cup.”

According to U.S. Soccer, she currently has 199 caps over a span of 17 years playing for her country and will soon become the 14th U.S. player in history to reach 200 caps. Rapinoe, 38, began her international career in July of 2006 when she debuted against the Republic of Ireland. In her 199 caps to date, the USA has amassed an impressive orecord of 157-14-28. 

Rapinoe has appeared for the USA in three different decades and has scored 63 career goals with 73 assists.

In 2019, as Rapinoe collected numerous prestigious awards including The Best FIFA Women’s Player of the Year, the France Football Ballon d’Or and the Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year. She won the Golden Ball as the best player in the World Cup and the Golden Boot as the top scorer with six goals.

Rapione is also one of just 18 USWNT players to play more than 11,000 minutes in a U.S. uniform. She has also played in 14 Olympic matches and scored five goals. She has started 142 of her 199 caps, coming off the bench 57 times, and has served as team captain for 15 matches – matching her longtime jersey number.

The keen two-way winger has also played in 17 World Cup matches and scoring nine goals.

“I’ve been able to have such an incredible career, and this game has brought me all over the world and allowed me to meet so many amazing people,” stated Rapinoe during her announcement.

“I feel incredibly grateful to have played as long as I have, to be as successful as we’ve been, and to have been a part of a generation of players who undoubtedly left the game better than they found it. To be able to play one last World Cup and one last NWSL season and go out on my own terms is incredibly special.”

She added, “I want to thank my family for being by my side all these years. Thanks to all my teammates and coaches all the way back to my first days in Redding, on to college at the University of Portland and of course thanks to U.S. Soccer, the Seattle Reign and especially Sue, for everything. I will forever cherish the friendships and support over the years in this game, and I am beyond excited for one last ride with the National Team and the Reign.”

Following the USWNT’s “Send-off” match against Wales in San Jose on July 9th, Rapinoe and her teammates will fly to Auckland, New Zealand, adjust to a new time zone, and prepare for their defense of their 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup victory. 

The 2023 tournament kicks off-on July 20th. Team USA will face-off with Vietnam on the 21st in New Zealand.

Rapinoe is expected to feature for the U.S. during the month-long event.

Photo Credit: John Babiak.

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