Rapinoe is internationally known for her crafty style of play and her activism off the pitch.[7][8][9] Her precise cross toAbby Wambach in the 122nd minute of the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup quarterfinal match againstBrazil resulted in anequalizer and eventual win for the Americans after a penalty shootout. The last-minute goal received ESPN's2011 ESPY Award for Best Play of the Year. During the 2012 London Olympics, she scored three goals and tallied a team-high four assists to lead the United States to a gold medal. She is the first player, male or female, to score agoal directly from a corner at the 2012 Olympic Games, having done so twice. She won both theGolden Boot andGolden Ball awards at the2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France.[10]
Rapinoe grew up inRedding, California, with her parents, Jim and Denise, and five siblings, including herfraternal twinRachael Rapinoe. Denise and Jim raised seven children together, not all their own. Denise has a son and daughter, Michael and Jenny, from a previous marriage; then came older brother Brian and then the twins five years later. Jim and her grandfather Jack both served in the Army.[13] She has Italian (from her paternal grandfather) and Irish ancestry.[14] She idolized her older brother Brian and started playing soccer at age three after watching him play the sport,[15] but he started using drugs when the girls were in second grade.[13] When she was ten and he was fifteen, he was put in juvenile detention, and was thereafter in and out of various prisons includingPelican Bay State Prison. Brian has since made a determined effort to avoid drugs after seeing his younger sister's success in international soccer.[16]
High school
Rapinoe spent most of her youth playing with teams coached by her father until high school.[17] Instead of playing soccer atFoothill High School, Rapinoe played for theElk Grove Pride club team, located south ofSacramento.[18][19] She competed in track as a freshman and sophomore; competed in basketball as a freshman, sophomore, and senior; and was on thehonor roll every semester of high school.[19] Rapinoe was namedParade andNational Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-American as a junior and senior. She was named to McDonald's All-American Girls High School Soccer West Team in 2004.[20] Rapinoe played for the under-14 Northern California state Olympic Development Program (ODP) team in 1999, as well as the regional ODP team in 2002.[21]
Elk Grove United, 2002–2005
From 2002 to 2005, Rapinoe played for Elk Grove Pride in theWomen's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) along with her sister, Rachael, and future national teammate,Stephanie Cox.[17][22] She and her family commuted two-and-a-half hours from her hometown to play with the team.[23] During the US Youth Soccer National Championships, she scored anequalizer goal in the 18th minute to tie the game 1–1 against the Peachtree City Lazers. Elk Grove United finished second at the nationals after the Lazers scored a game-winning goal in the second half.[24]
In 2005, as a freshman, Rapinoe helped the Pilots to an undefeated season and theNCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship. During the College Cup quarterfinal againstNotre Dame, she scored twice and served one assist, helping the Pilots win 3–1 and advance in the College Cup.[27] During the College Cup final againstUCLA, she scored one goal and served an assist helping the Pilots win 4–0.[28] She was named NSCAA First Team All-American and was on theSoccer America First Team Freshman All-America. Rapinoe made theNCAA Women's Soccer Championship All Tournament Team and was theWest Coast Conference Freshman of the Year.[29] She was also named to the All-West Coast Conference First Team and the All-West Coast Conference Freshman Team. Rapinoe played and started all 25 games as an attackingmidfielder, scoring 15 goals and adding 13 assists for 43 points—ranking fifth for freshman point totals in the school's history.[21] That year, she also scored seven game-winning goals.[19]
"I know this sounds weird, but getting hurt was one of the best things that ever happened to me. It really gave me a different perspective. Before, everything was going how it was supposed to be and I wasn't really appreciative of what I was doing and what it took to be there. The injury grounded me in a lot of different ways. The rehab process makes you stronger on all fronts, mentally and physically. I feel stronger and a better person for it. I would never wish it on anyone, but I don't wish I could take it back."
After taking her time to recover from her second ACL injury, Rapinoe returned for the 2008 season and was on the starting lineup in all 22 games for the Pilots. She helped the team secure a 20–2 record scoring five goals and serving 13 assists.[33] Her 13 assists ranked first for the Pilots as well as in theWest Coast Conference and she was named West Coast Conference Player of the Year.[34] She was also named aSoccer America First-Team All-American and NSCAA Second Team All-American.[19] Although she had one more season of college eligibility remaining due to her NCAAmedical hardship waiver, she opted to enter theWomen's Professional Soccer Draft instead.[19][35] Rapinoe's 88-point career, including 30 goals and 28 assists, ranks tenth in the school's history despite her playing only 60 games.[19]
Club career
Women's Professional Soccer (WPS), 2009–2011
Rapinoe was selected second overall in the2009 WPS Draft by theChicago Red Stars for theinaugural season ofWomen's Professional Soccer (WPS), the highest division of soccer in the United States at the time.[36] She was on the starting lineup in 17 of the 18 games in which she appeared for the Red Stars for a total of 1375 minutes on the pitch.[37] Rapinoe scored two goals and assisted on three others.[19] In August 2009, she was named to the league's All-Star Team[38] and played in the2009 WPS All-Star Game against SwedishDamallsvenskan championsUmeå.[39] In 2010, she started in 19 of the 20 games in which she appeared for the Red Stars. She scored one goal.[19]
In December 2010, Rapinoe signed with expansion teamPhiladelphia Independence after the Chicago Red Stars ceased operations.[40] She appeared in four games and scored one goal before being traded toMagicJack (formerly Washington Freedom) while she was in Germany for the2011 FIFA Women's World Cup.[41][42] It was reported that the "cash considerations" involved in the transfer were $100,000.[43][44] The average salary for a female player in the league was $25,000.[45] Rapinoe scored two goals in her eight regular-season appearances for MagicJack[37] helping the team finish third in the league standings and secure a spot in the playoffs.[46][47] During the team's semi-final match against theBoston Breakers on August 17, 2011, Rapinoe scored in the 61st minute solidifying the team's 3–1 win and advancement to the championship final.[48] MagicJack was later defeated 2–0 by thePhiladelphia Independence in the final.[49][50] On October 25, 2011, the WPS voted to terminate the MagicJack franchise, leaving Rapinoe and many other players as free agents for the 2012 season.[51] The league suspended operations in early 2012.[52]
Sydney FC and Seattle Sounders, 2011–2012
In October 2011, Rapinoe signed with AustralianW-League teamSydney FC as a guest player for two games.[53] In her second game againstMelbourne Victory, she scored with seven minutes remaining to seal three points for Sydney.[54] The win was the first for Sydney during the2011–12 season.[55] Sydney FC went on to finish third in the regular season[56] and advanced to the playoffs where they were defeated byBrisbane Roar in penalty kicks.[57]
During the summer of 2012, Rapinoe joined fellow national team membersHope Solo,Sydney Leroux,Alex Morgan andStephanie Cox to play with theSeattle Sounders Women in between camps with the national team as they prepared for the2012 Summer Olympics.[58] Of the signing, Sounders head coachMichelle French said: "Stemming from her leadership and success at the University of Portland, Megan has continued to evolve and grow into one of the most exciting, unpredictable, creative, and flashy players in the women's game."[59] Rapinoe made two appearances during the regular season with the team, serving two assists.[60] With Rapinoe and her national teammates' presence on the team,[61][62] the Sounders sold out nine of their ten home matches at the 4,500-capacityStarfire Stadium.[63] Average attendance during the 2012 season for the Sounders Women was four times higher than the next closest team.[63]
In January 2013, Rapinoe signed for six months withLyon, the French side that had previously won six consecutive French league championships and two straight European titles, for a reported €11,000 (or approximately $14,000) a month.[64] Rapinoe played in six regular-season matches for the team, scoring two goals primarily playing as aleft winger in the squad's4–3–3 formation.[37]
Rapinoe made herUEFA Women's Champions League debut during the first leg of the2012–13 quarterfinal againstMalmö on March 20.[65] She scored one goal during her 24 minutes on the pitch contributing to Lyon's 5–0 final victory.[66] She later scored a goal and served an assist during Lyon's 6–1 win overJuvisy in the second leg of the semi-finals.[67] Rapinoe became the fifth American woman in history to play in a Champions League final when Lyon faced German sideVfL Wolfsburg on May 23.[68][69] Lyon was defeated 1–0 in the final.[65] Rapinoe concluded her Champions League debut having made five appearances, scoring two goals and serving one assist.[65]
After returning to Lyon for the 2013–14 season,[70] Rapinoe scored three goals in her eight appearances for the club.[37] During the2013–14 Champions League, she made four appearances for Lyon and scored one goal during the team's 6–0 defeat ofTwente.[71][72] Lyon was eliminated in the Round of 16.[73] In January 2014, it was announced that Rapinoe had ended her time with Lyon earlier than planned and would be returning to the Seattle Reign for the entire2014 season.[74] She finished her time with Lyon having scored eight goals in 28 matches in all competitions.[75]
Rapinoe during a match against theBoston Breakers, April 13, 2014
OL Reign, 2013–2023
In 2013, Rapinoe joinedSeattle Reign FC[a] to which she had beenpreviously allocated in theNational Women's Soccer League.[76] Before Rapinoe joined the squad, the team had been struggling to score goals and were0–9–1 in ten games.[77] With the addition of Rapinoe, her national team and former Seattle Sounders Women teammate,Hope Solo, and some lineup changes to the front line, the Reign improved their goal-scoring ability and turned their league record around.[78] During a match against her former team in the WPS, the Chicago Red Stars, Rapinoe played a direct role in all of Seattle's four goals—leading the team to a 4–1 win over Chicago. After scoring two goals and serving one assist during the match, she was namedNWSL Player of the Week for Week 16 for the2013 NWSL season.[79] Despite only playing approximately half of the season (12 out of 22 regular-season games), Rapinoe was the Reign's leading scorer with five goals.[80]
After suffering a foot injury during the first home match of the2014 season on April 14, Rapinoe sat out several games and made her second season appearance on July 3 againstWestern New York Flash. Her four goals and one assist during the regular season helped the Reign secure the league's regular-season title (NWSL Shield) with a16–2–6 record and 54 points—13 points ahead of the second place team,Kansas City.[81] During the team's playoff semi-final match againstWashington Spirit, Rapinoe scored a goal helping the Reign win 2–1 and advance to the championship final against Kansas City.[82] Despite Rapinoe's goal during the championship final, the Reign was ultimately defeated by Kansas City 2–1.[83]
On July 8, 2023, Rapinoe announced that she would retire from professional soccer after the2023 National Women's Soccer League season.[95] Her final Reign home match on October 6 drew a NWSL record attendance of 34,130 atLumen Field.[96] The match included a ceremony to honor Rapinoe.[97] OL Reign qualified for the playoffs and advanced to the2023 NWSL Championship, where they lost toNJ/NY Gotham. Rapinoe was injured in the third minute of the match with a tornAchilles' tendon.[98]
International career
Youth national teams
Rapinoe played for the United States under-16 national soccer team in 2002 and traveled with the team to France andHouston, Texas.[19] She also played at theUnited States Youth Soccer Association International Tournament in Houston in May 2003.[19]
From 2003 to 2005, Rapinoe played for theUnited States under-19 team. She made 21 appearances and scored nine goals.[19] Her first camp with the under-19 team occurred in January 2003 inChula Vista, California.[19] She traveled with the team during a European tour to the Netherlands and Germany in July 2003.[19] She scored her first goal with the team againstMexico on March 1, 2003.[19] Rapinoe played in three matches at the 2004CONCACAF Under-19 qualifying tournament, scoring three goals.[19] During the2004 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship in Thailand she scored a team-high three goals, including one in the third-place match victory againstBrazil.[19][99][100]
Senior national team
National team debut and injury recovery, 2006–2009
Rapinoe trained with theUnited States women's national soccer team for the first time during the team's 2006 Residency Training Camp inCarson, California. She made her debut for the senior team on July 23, 2006, during a friendly match againstIreland. She scored her first two goals on October 1, 2006, during a friendly match againstTaiwan.[19]
Due to two separate ACL injuries, Rapinoe did not play for the senior team in 2007 or 2008 and subsequently missed the2007 FIFA Women's World Cup and the2008 Beijing Olympics.[101] Upon her return to the team in 2009, she led the team in points with five, including two goals and one assist. She was on the starting lineup in six of the seven games in which she played the same year.[19]
During the2009 Algarve Cup, Rapinoe scored the game-winning goal againstNorway leading the team to a 1–0 victory during the team's third group stage match of the tournament.[102] After the U.S. finished at the top of their group, they were defeated during apenalty kick shootout bySweden in the championship final.[19]
2011 FIFA Women's World Cup
Rapinoe(top) celebrates with her teammates after the United States scores a goal during the2011 FIFA Women's World Cup final.
In 2010, Rapinoe started eight of the ten games she played and scored four goals with two assists.[19] Rapinoe scored againstSweden andChina and twice againstGuatemala at the2010 CONCACAF Women's World Cup Qualifying Tournament, in which she played three games.[19] After the United States finished third at the tournament, they traveled to Italy to vie for a place at the2011 FIFA Women's World Cup in theUEFA-CONCACAF play-off againstItaly. During the team's second match of the series, Rapinoe served the assist forAmy Rodriguez's game-winning goal helping the United States earn a berth to the 2011 World Cup.[103]
Rapinoe was named to the United States roster for the2011 FIFA Women's World Cup.[104] During the team's second group stage match againstColombia, she entered the match during the 50th minute and scored almost immediately to put the United States up 2–0.[105] Rapinoe celebrated her goal by running to the corner to the left of Colombia's goal, picking up an on-field microphone being used for the match's television broadcast, tapping it, and singingBruce Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A." into it.[106]
During the quarterfinal match againstBrazil, Rapinoe came on as a substitute and served the precise cross toAbby Wambach'sequalizer goal in the 122nd minute of the game: a goal that holds the record for latest goal ever scored in a World Cup match.[107] Rapinoe would later convert her shot during thepenalty shootout to help send the United States to the semi-finals.[108] Rapinoe described her last-minute cross against Brazil: "I just took a touch and friggin' smacked it with my left foot. I don't think I've hit a ball like that with my left foot. I got it to the back post and that beast in the air just got a hold of it."[109]
Following the match against Brazil, Rapinoe was namedESPN's Next Level Player of the Week for completing five of ten crosses while the rest of the team was 0 for 18.[110] She served an assist in the semi-final againstFrance in which the United States won 3–1. During the dramatic final match againstJapan in front of48817 spectators at sold-outCommerzbank-Arena inFrankfurt and a record-breaking international television audience,[111] Rapinoe served her third assist of the tournament to Alex Morgan who scored the game-opening goal in the 69th minute.[19] The United States tied Japan 2–2 during regular and overtime leading to their second penalty kick shootout of the tournament. They were defeated 3–1 in penalties and concluded the tournament with a silver medal. Rapinoe's tournament record included one goal and three assists.[112] She played in all six games for the United States.[19]
2012 London Olympics
Rapinoe takes a corner kick in the gold medal match at the 2012 London Olympics.
Rapinoe helped lead the United States to a gold medal at the2012 Olympic Games inLondon. During the team's second group stage match againstColombia, she scored the game-winning goal in the 33rd minute in what became a 3–0 win for the Americans.[113] After the U.S. defeatedNorth Korea 1–0 in their final group stage match, they facedNew Zealand in the quarterfinals and won 2–0.[114]
During a dramatic semi-final match againstCanada atOld Trafford, Rapinoe scored two game-equalizing goals in the 54th and 70th minutes. Her first goal wasscored directly from a corner—a corner kick that goes untouched by another player into the net.[115][116] She is the first and so far only player, male or female, to score an Olimpico at the Olympic Games.[117] TheU.S. defeated Canada 4–3 with a stoppage time goal in the 123rd minute by Alex Morgan.[118] With her two goals, Rapinoe is one of only five players, includingWei Haiying,Cristiane,Angela Hucles andChristine Sinclair, to have scored two goals during an Olympic semi-final.[119]
Rapinoe after the gold medal match at 2012 Summer Olympics; August 9, 2012
The United States team clinched the gold medal after defeatingJapan 2–1 atWembley Stadium in front of 80,203 spectators—the largest crowd ever for a women's Olympic soccer game.[120] Rapinoe assisted onCarli Lloyd's second goal of the final in the 53rd minute.[121] She ended the tournament with three goals and a team-high four assists (tied with Alex Morgan).[19] Widely regarded as one of the top players of the Olympics, Rapinoe was named to numerous 'Team of the Tournament' lists including those selected by theBBC[122] and All White Kit.[123]
Rapinoe achieved a career-best eight goals and 12 assists for the United States in 2012.[124]
2013–2014
At the2013 Algarve Cup in Portugal, Rapinoe was named the Player of the Tournament, despite playing in only two of the four matches in which the United States competed. She was injured in practice and did not play during the final as the team defeatedGermany to win the 2013 Algarve Cup.[125]
Rapinoe battles for the ball during a match against New Zealand at Candlestick Park, 2013.
During a friendly match againstSouth Korea on June 20, 2013, Rapinoe served a corner kick that ended up being the assist for Abby Wambach's record-breaking 159th international goal. Wambach's goal broke the world record for most international goals scored by a male or female.[126][127] During a friendly match againstNew Zealand atCandlestick Park inSan Francisco, California, Rapinoe scored the game-opening goal on adirect free kick (her 23rd international goal) to help the U.S. win 4–1 and was named Player of the Match.[128]
2015 FIFA Women's World Cup
In April 2015, Rapinoe was named to the roster for the2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada coached by national team head coachJill Ellis.[129] During the team's first group stage match againstAustralia, she scored the game opening goal in the 12th minute.[130] She also scored a second goal in the 78th minute.[131] With an additional goal scored by teammateChristen Press in the 61st minute, the United States won 3–1.[132]
During training for a Victory Tour match to celebrate the team's World Cup win in late 2015, Rapinoe tore her anterior cruciate ligament.[133] The national team game that she was training for was later cancelled due to poor field conditions.[134]
2019 FIFA Women's World Cup
Rapinoe celebrates a goal with teammateCrystal Dunn, 2019.
Rapinoe was named to the United States'2019 FIFA Women's World Cup roster in May 2019; it was her third World Cup appearance.[135] In a 13–0 win overThailand during the group stage of the tournament, she contributed a goal.[136] The United States advanced to the knockout stage, where they facedSpain. Rapinoe scored twice in a 2–1 victory that sent the U.S. to a quarterfinal matchup against the host country,France. In the fifth minute, Rapinoe scored on a free kick to give the United States an early lead. She later added a second goal, and the U.S. held on to earn a semi-final berth. Rapinoe was named Player of the Match by FIFA for her performances in the round of 16 and quarterfinals.[137]
Because of an injured hamstring, Rapinoe was forced to sit out of the United States' semi-final victory overEngland, but she recovered in time to start in the2019 FIFA Women's World Cup Final.[138] During the final on July 7 in front of a sold-out crowd of 57,900 fans atParc Olympique Lyonnais, Rapinoe scored her 50th international goal on a penalty kick in the 61st minute.[139] After a second goal by teammateRose Lavelle, the United States defeated theNetherlands 2–0 to clinch its second consecutive World Cup championship.[140] At age 34, Rapinoe was the oldest woman to score in a World Cup final and was named Player of the Match.[140] She was awarded theGolden Boot as the top scorer in the tournament with six goals, having played fewer minutes than her teammateAlex Morgan and England'sEllen White, who also recorded six goals.[141] Rapinoe also earned theGolden Ball award as the best player at the tournament.[142]
2020 Tokyo Olympics
On August 5, 2021, she scored twice (including a second Olympic Olimpico) in a 4–3 win over Australia in the bronze medal match of the2020 Summer Olympics.[143]
2022 SheBelievesCup
In February 2022, U.S. women's national team coach,Vlatko Andonovski, announced that Rapinoe would not be included on the national team roster for theSheBelieves Cup.[144][145]
2023 FIFA Women's World Cup
On June 21, 2023, Andonovski named Rapinoe to the United States squad for the2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia.[146] On July 8, she announced that the 2023 World Cup would be her last major tournament, and that she would retire from professional soccer at the end of the year.[95] On August 6, 2023, the USWNT was knocked out of the tournament on penalties againstSweden in the Round of 16. Rapinoe was one of the three U.S. players to miss a penalty kick in what would be Rapinoe's final World Cup match.[147]
Personal life
Rapinoe has stated that she knew that she was alesbian by her first year in college.[148] She publiclycame out in the July 2012 edition ofOut, stating that she had been in a relationship with Australian soccer playerSarah Walsh since 2009.[148][149] After approximately five years together, Rapinoe and Walsh ended their relationship in 2013. Rapinoe later datedSub Pop recording artistSera Cahoone.[150] Rapinoe and Cahoone announced their engagement in August 2015.[151] In January 2017, Rapinoe stated that their wedding plans were on hold.[152] On July 20, 2017, Rapinoe and basketball playerSue Bird ofSeattle Storm confirmed that they had been dating since late 2016.[153] In 2018, Bird and Rapinoe became the first same-sex couple on the cover of ESPN'sThe Body Issue.[154] They announced their engagement on October 30, 2020.[155]
Speaking in a 2020 interview withTerry Gross onFresh Air, Rapinoe discussed how her older brother, who was the first to inspire her to play soccer, had suffered with drug abuse. He has also spent periods of time in jail, including solitary confinement. Rapinoe explained that during his incarceration, her brother became involved with white supremacist groups within prison.[156]
It was a little nod to Kaepernick and everything that he's standing for right now. I think it's actually pretty disgusting the way he was treated and the way that a lot of the media has covered it and made it about something that it absolutely isn't. [...] Being a gay American, I know what it means to look at the flag and not have it protect all of your liberties. It was something small that I could do and something that I plan to keep doing in the future and hopefully spark some meaningful conversation around it.[159][160][161]
During the2015 World Cup, she stood in silence for the national anthem.[162] She spoke out against the use of stadiums withartificial turf, its first use in a senior women's or men's World Cup tournament.[163]
Rapinoe has been a longtime advocate for the inclusion oftransgender women in women’s sports, and has characterized the issue as being part of a larger effort to “legislate away people’s full humanity“.[168][169][170]
In September 2017, Rapinoe and U.S. teammate Alex Morgan were part of a group of soccer players who signed up for the "Common Goal" campaign created byJuan Mata ofManchester United. As participants in the campaign, players donate one percent of their individual wages in support of other soccer-related charities. Rapinoe and Morgan were the first two women players to sign on to the campaign.[175]
Rapinoe was among several athletes to criticize theU.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturnRoe v. Wade in June 2022.[176] She had been one of five hundred former and current athletes who signed anamicus brief supporting abortion rights for theSupreme Court case back in September 2021.[177][178]
Rapinoe was featured on the cover of the March 2013 edition ofCurve.[198] She was profiled on August 6, 2012, edition ofSports Illustrated,[199] and the July 2012 edition ofOut.[200] The April 11, 2013, edition ofThe New York Times featured an article about her experiences in France, with the national team, and coming out publicly before the 2012 Olympics.[64] In July 2014, she was featured in the ESPN'sThe Body Issue.[201] In 2019, she became the first openly gay woman in the annualSports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.[202] She was featured on multiple covers ofSports Illustrated,[203][204]Marie Claire,[205] andInStyle[206] the same year.
In December 2020, it was reported that Rapinoe's bestselling memoir "One Life" is set to be adapted as a scripted TV series afterSony Pictures Television optioned the rights.[223]
On July 17, 2023, it was announced that Rapinoe will be one of the players featured in an upcoming Netflix documentary about the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team competing in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The docu-series is slated to premiere this fall.[224]
In 2025 Rapinoe guest voice as Herself in aPhineas and Ferb episode "Bend it Like Doof"[225]
Video games and LEGO
Rapinoe was featured along with her national teammates in theEA Sports'FIFA video game series starting inFIFA 16, the first time women players were included in the game.[226] In September 2015, she was ranked by EA Sports as the No. 2 women's player following teammateCarli Lloyd.[227] In 2023, Rapinoe was included inLEGO's Icons of Play set.[228]
Ticker tape parades, White House and Congressional honors, and a corn maze
Rapinoe celebrates with the United States women's national team at the ticker tape parade in New York City, July 2015.
Following the United States' win at the2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, Rapinoe and her teammates became the first women's sports team to be honored with aticker tape parade in New York City.[229] Each player received a key to the city from MayorBill de Blasio.[230] In October of the same year, the team was honored by PresidentBarack Obama at theWhite House,[231] and the president made note of the Northern California farm that had built a corn maze in the shape of Rapinoe's face.[232]
According toVogue, Rapinoe has developed her own signature look and possesses the swagger and attitude of a style icon[237] whereasThe Guardian took note of Rapinoe's "diverse approach to clothes" and referred to her as "an expert in mixing matching."[238] In 2020, Rapinoe signed a contract to be the spokeswoman for international luxury fashion brand Loewe,[239] and in 2022, Rapinoe designed her own logo and limited collection entitled "Victory Redefined" in collaboration with Nike.[238]
On September 4, 2016, during a game inChicago against theRed Stars, Rapinoe knelt during thenational anthem in solidarity withColin Kaepernick, theSan Francisco 49ers quarterback who refused to stand during the anthem to protest racial injustice and minority oppression.[159][240] She said at the time she planned to continue to kneel.[241] Later that week on September 7, theWashington Spirit uncharacteristically played the national anthem prior to the teams taking the field, indicating that they did not want to "subject our fans and friends to the disrespect we feel such an act would represent". In an additional statement, the Spirit management said "to willingly allow anyone to hijack this tradition that means so much to millions of Americans and so many of our own fans for any cause would effectively be just as disrespectful as doing it ourselves."
Rapinoe expressed displeasure with this move, saying: "it was incredibly distasteful, four days before [the anniversary of]one of the worst tragedies in our country, to say I tried to hijack this event."[241] She continued the protest on September 15, 2016, during the national team game againstThailand.[242]U.S. Soccer then issued a statement saying: "Representing your country is a privilege and honor for any player or coach that is associated with U.S. Soccer's National Teams. Therefore, our national anthem has particular significance for U.S. Soccer. In front of national and often global audiences, the playing of our national anthem is an opportunity for our Men's and Women's National Team players and coaches to reflect upon the liberties and freedom we all appreciate in this country. As part of the privilege to represent your country, we have an expectation that our players and coaches will stand and honor our flag while the national anthem is played."[243] In addressing the issue, Rapinoe stated in an interview that "using this blanketed patriotism as a defense against what the protest actually is was pretty cowardly", and further stated that she would probably never sing the national anthem again.[244]
Autobiography
In November 2020 Rapinoe published her autobiography,One Life (ISBN1984881167), which details her early life, her career highlights and setbacks, her activism for racial and gender equality and her personal relationships. The book became aNew York Times best seller and was optioned bySony Pictures Television.[223]
Following the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, Rapinoe's hometown of Redding honored her with a parade and named September 10 "Megan Rapinoe Day".[274] She received the Harry Glickman Professional Female Athlete of the Year award at the 60th annual Oregon Sports Awards held on February 12, 2012.[275] On October 25, 2012, she was one of ten female soccer players shortlisted for theFIFA Women's World Player of the Year award.[276] The same year, she was named a finalist forSports Illustrated's Most Inspiring Performers of 2012.[277] Rapinoe was awarded the board of directors Award by theLos Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center on November 10, 2012, for bringing awareness toLGBT people in sports.[278][279]
In March 2013, Rapinoe was named Player of the Tournament at the2013 Algarve Cup, which the U.S. won. She tallied a goal and assist in two games played.[250] After scoring two goals and serving one assist during a 4–1 win over theChicago Red Stars on July 25, 2013, she was namedNWSL Player of the Week by the media for Week 16 of the2013 NWSL season.[258]
On July 7, 2022, Rapinoe was presented with thePresidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest honor given to civilians, by PresidentJoe Biden in a ceremony at the White House; she was among a group of 17 honorees that includedSimone Biles.[287][288]
Notes
^abcdeThe club was called Seattle Reign FC from 2013 to 2018, Reign FC in 2019, and OL Reign from 2020 to 2023.
^Berfield, Susan (October 20, 2011)."Selling Abby Wambach".Bloomberg Businessweek. Archived fromthe original on November 17, 2014. RetrievedMarch 2, 2014.
^Billings, Jon."Sounders Sign World Cup Star Megan Rapinoe". Seattle Sounders Women. Archived fromthe original on March 24, 2012. RetrievedMarch 5, 2014.'"Stemming from her leadership and success at the University of Portland, Megan has continued to evolve and grow into one of the most exciting, unpredictable, creative, and flashy players in the women's game," said Sounders Women Head Coach, Michelle French.'
^abc"'It was a little nod to Kaepernick': Megan Rapinoe kneels for Star-Spangled Banner".The Guardian. September 5, 2016.Archived from the original on July 4, 2019. RetrievedJuly 5, 2019.'On Sunday, Rapinoe said her gesture was a nod towards Kaepernick. "It was very intentional," Rapinoe told American Soccer Now after the game. "It was a little nod to Kaepernick and everything that he's standing for right now. I think it's actually pretty disgusting the way he was treated and the way that a lot of the media has covered it and made it about something that it absolutely isn't. We need to have a more thoughtful, two-sided conversation about racial issues in this country. "Being a gay American, I know what it means to look at the flag and not have it protect all of your liberties. It was something small that I could do and something that I plan to keep doing in the future and hopefully spark some meaningful conversation around it. It's important to have white people stand in support of people of color on this. We don't need to be the leading voice, of course, but standing in support of them is something that's really powerful."'
Grainey, Timothy (2012),Beyond Bend It Like Beckham: The Global Phenomenon of Women's Soccer, University of Nebraska Press,ISBN0803240368
Lisi, Clemente A. (2010),The U.S. Women's Soccer Team: An American Success Story, Scarecrow Press,ISBN0810874164
Murray, Caitlin (2019),The National Team: The Inside Story of the Women Who Changed Soccer, Abrams,ISBN168335527X
Schultz, Jaime (2014),Qualifying Times: Points of Change in U.S. Women's Sport, University of Illinois Press,ISBN0252095960
Stay, Shane (2019),The Women's World Cup 2019 Book: Everything You Need to Know About the Soccer World Cup, Books on Demand,ISBN1782551921
Stevens, Dakota (2011),A Look at the Women's Professional Soccer Including the Soccer Associations, Teams, Players, Awards, and More, BiblioBazaar,ISBN1241047464
Theivam, Keiran and Jeff Kassouf (2019),The Making of the Women's World Cup: Defining stories from a sport's coming of age, Little,ISBN1472143310
Walters, Meg (2019),World Cup Women: Megan, Alex, and the Team USA Soccer Champs, Simon and Schuster,ISBN1510756302
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The Olimpico Goal – Megan Rapinoe – 90 Seconds of the Olympics onYouTube
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