Megan Rapinoe fails to score in final regular-season home game against the Washington Spirit but get
Megan Rapinoe failed to score in her final home regular-season NWSL game with OL Reign in a 0-0 draw against the Washington Spirit, despite being given a glorious chance to take the lead in the second half.
The 38-year-old’s shot from within the 18-yard box was comfortably saved in the 50th minute by goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury. Rapinoe, did not have another shot attempt after that, as she stayed relatively quiet throughout Friday night’s sellout game (over 34,000 fans) at Lumen Field.
The ex-U.S. captain, who retired from international duty after this year’s Round of 16 exit at the World Cup in August – considered as the worst finish in the history of U.S. women’s soccer at the tournament – was lost for words in her post-match speech to the crowd. Fans applauded her for roughly a minute before she spoke.
‘OK, OK…’ said Rapinoe. ‘It take a lot to make me feel uncomfortable. Success… This is so amazing, just looking out and seeing all my family here… all my teammates, former teammates, friends, and people in my life.
‘Thank you so much to all the fans who showed up. This is what we wanted for so long. This is such an incredible atmosphere to play in front of you guys and entertain you guys.
Megan Rapinoe only had one shot on target during her last regular-season home game, Friday
Rapinoe, 38, stayed relatively quiet in a 0-0 draw against the Washington Spirit at Lumen Field
Rapinoe thanks fans after Friday’s 0-0 tie in Seattle. She was roughly given a minute’s applause
‘[…] I love you guys all,’ she later added. ‘And to my family, I love you guys so much. Thank you for being here. Dad, I love you at home! We miss you.
‘Babe, I love you so much,’ she added, referring to her partner, WNBA legend Sue Bird, who she’s been engaged with since 2020. The pair started dating in 2017.
‘To the rest of my family who’s here…look out for Sue! Everybody loves Sue!’
‘[…] But just thank you to everyone! It’s been an amazing night and I really appreciate it. I hope to see all of you at all the home games next year, so…’
OL Reign head coach, Laura Harvey, named Rapinoe in her team’s starting line-up, with the winger playing on the left wing, where she has registered two goals and five assists from across 14 matches this season.
‘Thank you, Megan’ chants broke out after Rapinoe’s speech following Friday’s game.
The Reign – the No. 6 seed of the NWSL – trailed the Spirit – the No. 5 ranked team – by just a point and occupy the last postseason birth, with just a round of fixtures left in the regular season.
Rapinoe and Co. will travel to take on the Red Stars – the 11th seed of the league – in Chicago on October.
A OL Reign fan holding a sign for Rapinoe. It read: ‘We can’t to tell our baby about your legacy’
“It takes a lot to make me uncomfortable.”?
I cut some out, but there was a good 55 seconds of applause for Megan Rapinoe before her speech. pic.twitter.com/df2EP2hd6K
— Alyssa Charlston (@Alyssacharlston) October 7, 2023
Rapinoe kissing her partner and retired WNBA legend Sue Bird after giving a speech on Friday
The OL Reign are for sale.
So would Megan Rapinoe consider becoming an owner?
NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman says she’s had conversations with Rapinoe about it. pic.twitter.com/9MqZXgcIGP
— Jake García (@Jake_M_Garcia) October 7, 2023
If they lose, then they could be in serious danger of missing the playoffs.
Prior to the 0-0 draw against the Spirit, NWSL commissioner Jessie Berman said that she’s had conversations with Rapinoe – a women’s Ballon d’Or winner, Olympics gold medalist and two-time World Cup champion – about becoming a team owner in the future.
The OL Reign are for sale.
‘I mean who wouldn’t enjoy working with someone like Megan in any capacity,’ Berman told reporters, per King 5 Seattle.
‘As I’ve told her personally, when she’s ready to have a conversation about what the future looks like in women’s soccer and beyond, I would welcome the opportunity to support whatever she wants to do in her future.
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