{"id":291567,"date":"2023-10-07T22:32:05","date_gmt":"2023-10-07T22:32:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/?p=291567"},"modified":"2023-10-07T22:32:05","modified_gmt":"2023-10-07T22:32:05","slug":"megan-rapinoe-makes-heartfelt-admission-as-record-crowd-bids-emotional-farewell","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/soccer\/megan-rapinoe-makes-heartfelt-admission-as-record-crowd-bids-emotional-farewell\/","title":{"rendered":"Megan Rapinoe makes heartfelt admission as record crowd bids emotional farewell"},"content":{"rendered":"

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American football icon Megan Rapinoe has expressed her “deep sense of gratitude and joy” to fans following her final\u00a0National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) home game. The two-time World Cup winner with the USWNT, bid farewell to a\u00a0league-record 34,130 spectators at Lumen Field as she played out a goalless draw against\u00a0Washington Spirit.<\/p>\n

Ahead of the Women’s World Cup\u00a0earlier this year,\u00a0Rapinoe\u00a0announced that she would be retiring at the end of the NWSL domestic season. The decision comes following her illustrious 14-year career that saw her lift the World Cup in 2015 and 2019, as well as three\u00a0CONCACAF Women’s Championships and an Olympic gold medal.<\/p>\n

She has so far been checking off a list of farewells, starting with her final World Cup appearance as the USWNT suffered their earliest tournament exit in a\u00a0Round of 16 defeat\u00a0to Sweden\u00a0on penalties. Then her final game for the UWSNT in September.<\/p>\n

Now, in her final game for the Seattle club at home, she played the full 90 minutes with fans in the stadium wearing pink wigs in tribute. Rapinoe was also presented with a special trophy. Her teammates wore the number 15 warm-up jersey in honour before the game which was accompanied by a video tribute featuring such sporting stars as baseball great\u00a0Ken Griffey Jr and tennis icon\u00a0Billie Jean King.<\/p>\n

“I do know my impact but it’s one thing to know it, and another thing to really feel it and see it,” Rapinoe said reflecting on her career. “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.”<\/p>\n

Rapinoe was cheered and hugged by players from both teams after the game. She was then joined by her partner, and\u00a0five-time Olympic basketball gold medallist, Sue Bird.<\/p>\n

“This is so amazing,” Rapinoe said addressing the crowd. “This was just always the place where I could be myself and be safe and be protected and just go out and try stuff. This was kind of my little training ground for other things that were on different stages.<\/p>\n

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“To be able to play here my whole career in one city… just really special to be able to have this. So, just thank you to everyone. Hopefully a lot more to come this season. Certainly, a lot more to come after this season. I feel like in so many ways this is just the beginning.”<\/p>\n

Rapinoe’s last international game came in a\u00a0convincing 2-0 international friendly win over South Africa at the Soldier Field in Chicago during the last international break. The American was honoured before the game where she was recognised for becoming the\u00a014th player in USWNT history to earn 200 caps.<\/p>\n

Rapinoe ended her USWNT career with 203 caps, 63 goals and 73 assists.<\/p>\n

Source: Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

American football icon Megan Rapinoe has expressed her “deep sense of gratitude and joy” to fans following her final\u00a0National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) home game. 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