Megan Rapinoe honored by team OL Reign in front of record NWSL crowd of 34,130

Megan Rapinoe, the renowned soccer star, received a heartfelt tribute from her club team, OL Reign, on Friday evening. This momentous event unfolded before a remarkable gathering of 34,130 devoted fans, setting a new attendance record for the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Many among the crowd donned pink wigs as a symbol of their admiration for Rapinoe.

Despite her reputation for eloquence, Rapinoe found herself struggling to articulate her emotions during the ceremony. She reflected on the profound impact she has had, stating, “I do know my impact but it’s one thing to know it, and another thing to really feel it and see it. To see some of the signs and the pink wigs and see what that means to people… It’s hard to put just this deep sense of gratitude and joy and thankfulness for being able to have a moment like this into words.”

Accompanied by her family and fiancé, Sue Bird, Rapinoe took the field as part of the Reign’s lineup for a match against the Washington Spirit, which ultimately ended in a scoreless draw. The poignant choice of “Ain’t No Sunshine When She’s Gone” played over the stadium’s public address system as Rapinoe made her entrance alongside her teammates.

While Rapinoe had bid farewell to the U.S. national team in a match last month in Chicago, this Friday marked her final regular-season home game with the Reign. Her impact on the team was palpable, as teammate Lauren Barnes attested, saying, “I don’t ever think we took it for granted our 11 years here one bit. I think that’s how Pinoe lives, she lives with this joy, she lives for those moments, and she really pushes us to also do that.”

Prior to the match, a touching video featured well-wishes from luminaries such as Abby Wambach, Ken Griffey Jr., Magic Johnson, and Billie Jean King.

Having played 114 regular-season games for the Reign and scored 49 goals during her illustrious club career, Rapinoe’s soccer journey isn’t quite finished. Next week, the Reign will conclude their season with an away game against the Chicago Red Stars. Furthermore, there’s the possibility of a playoff berth, as the Reign moved into sixth place in the standings following Racing Louisville’s victory over the Orlando Pride earlier on Friday.

Megan Rapinoe had announced her retirement from professional soccer before this summer’s Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Her exceptional career boasts two World Cup titles, an Olympic gold medal, and an Olympic bronze. Her unforgettable performance at the 2019 World Cup, marked by her iconic victory pose and golden accolades, solidified her status as a soccer legend.

Rapinoe’s tenure with the Reign, which began in 2013, makes her one of just five players league-wide who have remained with the same team since the NWSL’s inception.

NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman expressed hope that Rapinoe will continue to play a pivotal role in the league, acknowledging her immense influence both on and off the field. Rapinoe’s advocacy for social justice, including the fight for equal pay for women’s and men’s national teams, her vocal support for LGBTQ issues, transgender rights, and her solidarity with Colin Kaepernick’s protest, has made her a beacon of courage and authenticity in the world of sports.

In Rapinoe’s own words, “That’s what really matters. Of course, we love playing, we want to make the league better in every possible way that we can. But it’s a game at the end of the day and it’s something that we get to use to what I feel the point of life is: To use what you have to better yourself and make people better around you and leave things in a better place than where you found them. To me, that’s the whole point and that’s what I take most pride in.”

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• Megan Rapinoe
• OL Reign
• National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL)
• Women’s World Cup
• Equal Pay Advocacy
• LGBTQ Advocacy
• Colin Kaepernick’s Protest