It’s an unusual sight for fans of the United States women’s national team – a day without Megan Rapinoe. Typing those words feels strange, and accepting them may be even stranger, especially when you consider that Rapinoe’s impact transcends her absence from the team.
In the literal sense, the dynamic forward is still active, continuing to play for her club, OL Reign. She has a few more weeks in her professional career, hoping to clinch one of the few titles that have eluded her: a National Women’s Soccer League Championship. A championship win with her club, a place that has played a pivotal role in her career, would be a poetic ending. However, Rapinoe acknowledges that perfect conclusions are rare, as demonstrated by her missed penalty in the shootout against Sweden at the 2023 World Cup.
Rapinoe bid farewell to her 17-year career with the United States on Sunday, marking the conclusion of an era that saw her play a significant role in making the national team the best on the planet. Attempting to encapsulate the entirety of Rapinoe’s career is a daunting task. Her on-field accomplishments include two World Cup titles, a Golden Ball as the world’s best player, and an Olympic gold medal, to name just a few. Yet, it’s her off-field contributions that Rapinoe holds in the highest regard.
Rapinoe was a vocal advocate for equality, LGBTQ+ rights, and racial justice. She was willing to put her career on the line for these causes, as she did in 2016 when she knelt during the national anthem in solidarity with former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s protests against racism and police violence. U.S. Soccer soon instituted (and later retracted) a rule mandating all players and staff to stand during the anthem, resulting in Rapinoe missing several call-ups. Even years later, her decision to challenge President Donald Trump and his supporters in public carried significant consequences.
Nevertheless, Rapinoe remained steadfast in her commitment to justice. In the lead-up to her final game in a U.S. jersey, she reflected on a valuable lesson her mother imparted to her and her twin sister, Rachael, when they were budding soccer stars gaining recognition among their peers.
“I think it’s just kind of my worldview that you have a responsibility to use whatever talent you have or whatever way you can to make the world a better place in some kind of way,” Rapinoe said.
Megan Rapinoe may have retired from international duty, but her legacy as an athlete and advocate for change will continue to shine brightly, inspiring future generations. In her imperfection, she showed us the power of standing up for what is just and making the world better.
Originally posted 2023-09-25 21:33:15.
