Megan Rapinoe

Latest News: Megan Rapinoe Plays Final Match for the USWNT

Megan Rapinoe concluded her illustrious international soccer career with a 2-0 victory over South Africa on September 24, marking her final appearance for the United States Women’s National Team (USWNT). Although Rapinoe did not score during the match, she performed her signature goal celebration one last time, encouraged by her teammates. A heartfelt video tribute preceded her emotional address to fans, where she expressed, “I feel like I was able to grow up in front of you. It has been such an honor to wear this shirt and play out my childhood dream.” Among the supporters in attendance were her family, friends, and fiancée, former WNBA star Sue Bird. Rapinoe’s final game with Seattle’s NWSL team, OL Reign, is scheduled for October 15, after having played with the club since 2013.

Who Is Megan Rapinoe?

Megan Rapinoe is a prominent soccer player and a vital contributor to the success of the USWNT. Her impressive resume includes two FIFA Women’s World Cup titles (2015 and 2019) and an Olympic gold medal (2012). Rapinoe’s standout performance in the 2019 World Cup earned her both the Golden Boot for the most goals scored and the Golden Ball for being the tournament’s top player. Additionally, she was honored as FIFA’s Women’s World Player of the Year in 2019. Beyond her athletic achievements, Rapinoe is a passionate advocate for social justice, having publicly supported LGBTQ+ rights, racial equality, and gender pay equity.

Early Life, Family, and Soccer Beginnings

Megan Anna Rapinoe was born on July 5, 1985, in Redding, California, just 11 minutes after her fraternal twin sister, Rachael. Growing up in a conservative environment, Rapinoe was the youngest of six siblings. Her mother, Denise, worked as a server, while her father, Jim, was a contractor.

Rapinoe’s soccer journey began at the age of five, inspired by her older brother Brian. Due to the absence of girls’ teams in their area, she and Rachael initially joined a boys’ team. Megan attended Foothill High School, where she excelled not only in soccer but also in track and basketball. She aimed to earn a college soccer scholarship, which she successfully achieved at the University of Portland. She also played for the U.S. Soccer Under-17 youth team and postponed her college enrollment to join the Under-19 team.

Rapinoe started her tenure at the University of Portland in January 2005, helping the women’s soccer team secure the NCAA Division I Championship that year. She made her USWNT debut in July 2006 against Ireland, while simultaneously contributing to her college team. Unfortunately, she suffered ACL injuries in both 2006 and 2007, which sidelined her from competition.

Despite her sister Rachael excelling at soccer during college, she did not reach the same professional level as Megan. The sisters maintain a close relationship. Rapinoe has also been a steadfast support for her brother Brian, who has faced challenges with drug addiction and has been incarcerated multiple times. She notably celebrated him in a birthday shoutout after the 2019 World Cup final.

U.S. Women’s National Team and Club Career

As a forward, Rapinoe is recognized for her unique goal celebration, characterized by outstretched arms, an upward gaze, and a joyful expression. She rejoined the USWNT in 2009 and participated in her first World Cup in 2011, where she delivered a memorable assist to Abby Wambach, leading to a crucial game-tying goal. While the team did not win the World Cup that year, Rapinoe was part of the squad that clinched gold at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Throughout her career, Rapinoe played for various clubs, beginning with the Chicago Red Stars in 2009, followed by stints with the Philadelphia Independence, Florida’s magicJack, and Sydney FC in Australia. She played for Olympique Lyonnais in France in 2013, returning to the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) with OL Reign in Seattle in 2014.

In 2015, Rapinoe and the USWNT triumphed at the World Cup. Although she suffered an ACL injury in December of that year, she remained part of the Olympic team for the 2016 Games, where the USWNT did not medal. As co-captain during the 2019 World Cup, Rapinoe made headlines when she stated that she would not visit the White House if invited, a remark that drew attention from then-President Donald Trump. Despite the controversy, she excelled on the field, scoring two goals in the quarterfinals and leading the team to victory in the tournament. Rapinoe concluded the 2019 World Cup as the recipient of both the Golden Boot and the Golden Ball and was named FIFA’s Women’s World Player of the Year.

Rapinoe also participated in the 2020 Olympic Games, postponed to the summer of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, where she scored two goals in the third-place match, helping the U.S. secure a bronze medal. However, she was not selected for the 2022 SheBelieves Cup roster.

Retirement

In late June 2023, U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) head coach Vlatko Andonovski announced that Megan Rapinoe would be included in the team’s 23-player roster for the World Cup, hosted by New Zealand and Australia in July. Andonovski highlighted her significant leadership role and acknowledged that while Rapinoe would experience a different style of play compared to previous World Cups, her contributions on the field remained invaluable. Shortly thereafter, on July 8, Rapinoe announced her decision to retire from competitive soccer at the conclusion of the 2023 season, designating the World Cup as her final tournament with the national team. In a heartfelt tweet, she remarked, “I never could have imagined the ways in which soccer would shape & change my life forever.” Unfortunately, the USWNT faced a disappointing outcome, securing only one victory in four matches before being eliminated in the round of 16 following a loss to Sweden.

Rapinoe played her final match with the USWNT at Chicago’s Soldier Field on September 24, 2023, achieving a 2-0 victory in a friendly against South Africa. Over her illustrious 17-year career, she earned 203 caps and scored 63 goals. She is expected to play her last home game with OL Reign on October 6, followed by the final match of the season on October 15.

Fight for Equal Pay

Throughout her career, Rapinoe has been a prominent advocate for equal pay in soccer, as male players in the United States historically earned more than their female counterparts despite the women’s national team achieving greater success. In 2016, Rapinoe and four teammates filed a federal labor complaint against U.S. Soccer, citing wage discrimination. Following a lack of progress on this complaint, Rapinoe joined 27 other players in filing a lawsuit against the U.S. Soccer Federation in March 2019, alleging pay discrimination. Although the suit was dismissed by a federal judge in May 2020, an agreement was ultimately reached in December 2020 to enhance working conditions and promote parity for the women’s team.

In March 2021, Rapinoe visited President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at the White House to commemorate Equal Pay Day. During the event, she emphasized the disparities in pay, stating, “You see, despite all the wins, I’m still paid less than men who do the same job that I do.” In June of that year, the documentary LFG, which chronicled the fight for equal pay for female soccer players, premiered on HBO and featured interviews with Rapinoe.

In February 2022, Rapinoe and teammate Alex Morgan were part of a group of five players who reached a $24 million settlement with the U.S. Soccer Federation stemming from their 2016 complaint. The settlement ensured that U.S. Soccer would compensate male and female players equally in all future friendlies and tournaments, including the World Cup. Rapinoe expressed her satisfaction with the outcome, stating, “For us, this is just a huge win in ensuring that we not only right the wrongs of the past but set the next generation up for something we only dreamed of.”

Other Activism: LGBTQ Rights and Racial Justice

Megan Rapinoe’s commitment to activism transcends sports. She firmly believes there is no division between athleticism and political engagement. In 2020, she articulated her stance, asserting, “I think the premise that athletes shouldn’t be political is just wack. Politics is gonna engage with you whether you engage with it or not.” She later expressed her responsibility to leverage her platform for social good, stating, “I feel a responsibility to do what I can with what I have to try to make the world better in whatever way I’m able to.”

LGBTQ Rights

Rapinoe, who recognized her sexual orientation while in college, publicly came out as gay in July 2012, ahead of the Olympic Games, becoming one of the first professional soccer players to do so. She felt that remaining in the closet was inauthentic. Since then, she has been an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ rights. In March 2021, in response to state legislation restricting transgender children’s participation in school sports, Rapinoe wrote an opinion piece asserting that “all kids, including transgender youth, should be able to participate in sports they love.”

In July 2023, Rapinoe voiced her opposition to policies seeking to ban transgender women from competing in women’s sports. In an interview with Time, she stated she would “absolutely” welcome a transgender woman onto the U.S. team, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity in sports: “The most amazing thing about sports is that you play, and you’re playing with other people, and you’re having fun, and you’re being physically active… But we’re talking about people’s lives. That’s where we have to start.”

Racial Justice

In August 2016, following Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling protest during the national anthem, Rapinoe became the first prominent white athlete to join him in this gesture, expressing her solidarity against racial injustice. She stated, “I have chosen to kneel because I simply cannot stand for the kind of oppression this country is allowing against its own people.” Acknowledging her identity as a gay American, she reflected on the lack of protection under the flag for all citizens.

Rapinoe’s activism led to backlash, including hate mail and a temporary removal from the national team roster. She returned to play in April 2017, complying with a U.S. Soccer mandate requiring players to stand for the anthem, although she refrained from singing. This policy was rescinded in June 2020. Despite the challenges, Rapinoe has recognized that her career continued to thrive, while Kaepernick has not played in the NFL since 2017.

Rapinoe’s advocacy has also extended to supporting legislative changes regarding addiction treatment and endorsing candidates who align with her values. She publicly supported Elizabeth Warren during the 2020 presidential campaign and engaged in discussions about COVID-19 relief efforts with Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Presidential Medal of Freedom

In recognition of her significant contributions to the U.S. team and her dedication to equal pay and social justice causes, President Joe Biden awarded Rapinoe the Presidential Medal of Freedom in July 2022. This distinguished honor made her the first soccer player to receive the medal and only the sixth female athlete or coach in any sport to do so. Other honorees that year included Olympic gymnast Simone Biles and actor Denzel Washington. President Biden remarked, “Beyond the World Cup title to Olympic medals, Megan is a champion for the essential American truth that everyone, everyone, is entitled to be treated with dignity and respect.”

Relationship with Sue Bird

Rapinoe has had notable relationships, including a previous engagement to musician Sera Cahoone and a romantic partnership with Australian football player Sarah Walsh. However, it was her relationship with WNBA star Sue Bird that garnered significant public attention. The two met during the 2016 Olympics in Rio, where Bird supported Rapinoe following her decision to kneel during the national anthem. Rapinoe credits Bird with helping her enhance her fitness and overall performance, stating, “From a career standpoint, I owe so much to her.”

The couple began living together in 2018, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, Rapinoe joined Bird in the WNBA bubble to avoid separation. They announced their engagement in October 2020. In December 2022, Rapinoe and Bird launched their own production company, A Touch More, focusing on projects that celebrate individuals who positively influence culture.

Historic Media Appearances and Book

Megan Rapinoe has made significant strides in media representation. In 2018, she and Bird graced the cover of ESPN The Magazine’s Body Issue, becoming the first openly gay couple to do so. The following year, Rapinoe made history as the first out lesbian to appear in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, and she was named Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year in 2019.

Her one-hour HBO special, Seeing America with Megan Rapinoe, premiered in August 2020, further solidifying her influence. She co-hosted the ESPYs in 2020 and appeared in the reboot of The L Word. In November of that year, she published her memoir, One Life, which quickly became a New York Times bestseller. Following its success, it was announced that Sony Picture Studios planned to adapt the memoir into a scripted television series.

Sponsorships and Lifestyle Brand

Rapinoe has established numerous lucrative sponsorships with brands such as Nike, Samsung, and Vitamin Water. Additionally, she has endorsement deals with Schmidt’s deodorant and Victoria’s Secret. She founded Rapinoe SC to create sports clinics and co-founded a lifestyle brand, re-inc, dedicated to promoting positive cultural impact through fashion and lifestyle initiatives.