Megan Rapione is the iconic soccer star, team player, and fashionista. Who knew she was going to stop playing soccer?
Former forward, Megan Rapinoe was a professional soccer player on the United States Women’s National Team. Rapinoe decided her time has come and she has taken a step down from being on the team and she retired this year. Rapinoe is famous for being a role model to many fans and supporters.
In her USWNT career, according to the U.S. Soccer website, Rapinoe has exceptional stats that include “63 goals 13 of them were PK goals, and 73 assists with the USWNT while compiling a record of 157-14-28.”
Rapinoe has spoken out about why she retired. She indicated that “it’s because of equal rights, equal pay, Black Lives Matter movement and also voter rights.” She told the website New York Times. Rapinoe also advocated for equal pay in women’s soccer and support for her and the LGBTQ+ community. In honor of what she advocates, President Joe Biden last year awarded Rapinoe the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.
I’ve spoken to some of my friends and asked them the question, how did watching Megan Rapinoe as a player of the USWNT affect you as a whole and how do you feel about her leaving?
Junior Addy Hiller said, “Watching her play throughout the years as a young soccer player has inspired me to get on the field, try my best, and never give up. I admire her talent on and off the field. She is also very inspiring, and I really look up to her I’m very sad to see her leave but she has a forever impact on the USWNT and on me.“
Senior Megan Weiss said, “I’m very sad to see her go because I feel like she was very influential and hardworking and inspiring pLayer for a lot of younger girls to look up to.”
Junior Omar Yousif mentioned, “She affected me because watching her play made me love the sport even more. The way she played in the center position with the ball close to her and the through passes she made made me want to do the same. I think her leaving makes me upset because the legacy she left on the National Team had such a big impact not just on women’s soccer but on soccer in general.”
Whether we like it or not Rapinoe has officially retired and she is completely done with soccer. The impact and dedication she had to her team has created for everyone, has officially changed the world.
Megan Rapinoe #15 has officially signed off.
