July 10 – Megan Rapinoe, the star of American women’s football and two-time World Cup winner, has announced she will retire at the end of the 2023 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season.
This summer Rapinoe will embark on her fourth and final World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, having won the global finals twice already, before returning to her NWSL team OL Reign. She announced her retirement on social media.
“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,” said Rapinoe at a news conference.
“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 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.”
Rapinoe debuted for the US women’s team in 2006. She has scored 63 goals and registered 73 assists for her country.
“Megan is a generational talent,” said USWNT general manager Kate Markgraf. “When you talk about players performing on the biggest stages, she’s right up there with the best to ever do it for the US Women’s National Team.
“And that’s just her contributions on the field. Her contributions off the field are the epitome of someone who saw that she had a large platform and used it for good.”
She is also known for social work, defending the rights of the LGBTQ+ community as well as standing up for pay equity and racial equality. Rapinoe hit the headlines in 2016 when she took a knee during the national anthem in solidarity with NFL player Colin Kaepernick.
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