Playing in the final game of her storied soccer career, Megan Rapinoe went down with an injury.
In the NWSL championship game, Rapinoe, a forward for the OL Reign, tried to make a play on the ball on the defensive half of the field when she went down with a non-contact injury.
After a delay, the U.S. Women’s National Team icon was substituted from the game in the sixth minute by Bethany Balcer, and Rapinoe shared a hug with Gotham FC’s Ali Krieger, a fellow USWNT star who is also playing in her final professional soccer game.
In June, the 38-year-old announced that this year’s Women’s World Cup and following NWSL season would be her last in soccer.
“I’ve been able to have such an amazing career, and this game has brought me all over the world and allowed me to meet so many amazing people,” Rapinoe said in a statement released by U.S. Soccer then.
“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.
“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 [Bird] for everything. I will forever cherish the friendship 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 won two World Cups in 2015 and 2019, and she was named the Best FIFA Women’s Player in the latter year.
She recorded nine goals and seven assists over four different World Cup appearances.