This goes to show you how our lives can change on a dime, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. Megan Rapinoe suffered a noncontact injury while on the field tonight in the third minute of the Reign’s NWSL championship game vs. Gotham in San Diego. She slipped on the turf and limped off the field. The Seattle Times called it “the end of her career.”
A stretcher was called shortly after, but Rapinoe rose and limped off the pitch with medical staff at her side. Before leaving the field, she gave a hug to her friend and former USWNT Ali Krieger, captain of Gotham, as she made her way off the field. The U.S. internationals announced this season would be their last playing soccer.
The crowd of about 20,000 at Snapdragon Stadium gave Rapinoe a standing ovation as she walked the perimeter of the field with the medical staff to take a seat on the Reign bench. Forward Bethany Balcer subbed on for Rapinoe in the 6th minute.
Rapinoe, 38, announced in July that the conclusion of the NWSL season would conclude her storied soccer career. A league championship is the only trophy she hasn’t won, but she was key in the Reign winning three NWSL Shields, which is given to the top finishing team after regular season competitions.
Careers in professional sports are short. Rapinoe had planned to retire anyhow and retirement came just a bit early. It’s always amazing to see something like this. Rapinoe has an injury that would probably put the yous and mes on the couch for a few days but to a professional athlete, something that wouldn’t affect a normal person’s life all that much can make all the difference in the world.
The good news is that women’s sport is finally getting the coverage and support it deserves.
Megan Rapinoe is part of the reason for this.
She had a storied career,and we should wish her a happy life with her wife.