- Just minutes into the final, Rapinoe appeared to be tweaking her leg
- It marks a brutal and sudden end to her career as a professional footballer
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In some ways, it’s the cruelest end to a career that was filled with so many highs – only to end with the lowest of lows.
Less than three minutes into the final game of her career – the NWSL final between her OL Reign and Gotham FC – Megan Rapinoe suffered an injury and had to be substituted.
Rapinoe fell to the ground and appeared to have something tweaking her leg – needing help from trainers. It looks like her foot got caught in the turf at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego.
She was helped to her feet and then leaned on training staff as she walked off the field and down the tunnel.
Ali Krieger, the Gotham FC defender and one of Rapinoe’s best friends who is also playing her final game, came up to give her a hug before she left.
Meghan Rapinoe had to be substituted just minutes into the final game of her career
Rapinoe appeared to be pinching something in her leg and appeared to be in pain on the ground
Trainers helped her to her feet and needed help walking through the tunnel
Megan Rapinoe suffers an injury in her final career game less than three minutes into the NWSL final 💔
She receives a standing ovation from Snapdragon Stadium pic.twitter.com/uwqG2epzMK
— Attacking Third (@AttackingThird) November 12, 2023
As she was helped to the tunnel, she was given a standing ovation and the crowd chanted her name.
The Warrior-Rapinoe final was hyped by the NWSL and the women’s sports media for days – with many looking forward to the final match between the two highly decorated athletes.
To add another insult [actual] After an injury, Gotham scored their first goal of the competition thanks to a low pass from Lynn Williams in the penalty area. Just a few minutes later, Rose Lavelle equalized for the Reign. Before the end of the first half, Gotham’s Esther Gonzalez made the score 2-1.
That was all it took as Gotham FC won its first NWSL title in club history.
Shortly before the start of the second half, Rapinoe was seen walking on crutches – smiling and waving to the audience.
Rapinoe had never won an NWSL championship in her career. She had won the NWSL Shield – awarded to the team with the best regular season record – three times.
She spent her entire NWSL career with Reign, scoring a total of 55 goals in 125 total appearances for the club. During this time she also suffered several serious injuries.
But of course, Rapinoe is best remembered for her contributions to the U.S. Women’s National Team.
Rapinoe helped the United States win back-to-back World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019. She won the Golden Ball and Golden Boot in the latter tournament, and her performances in France helped her win the 2019 Ballon d’Or Feminin.
Ali Krieger, who is also retiring after tonight, came over to hug her friend before she left
She was also successful at the Olympic Games. She helped Team USA win the gold medal at the 2012 Summer Games in London.
Over the course of her club career – which included three stints with the now-defunct WPS, Sydney FC in the Australian W-League and Lyon in the French Division 1 Feminine – Rapinoe scored 71 goals in 203 appearances.
With Lyon, Rapinoe won the only championship title of her career – and took the crown in the 2012/13 season. This year she achieved double by also winning the Coupe de Franc Feminine.
Megan Rapinoe’s final game is over in THREE MINUTES as the retiring OL Reign star is forced out of the NWSL final against Gotham due to injury