OL Reign Down Under: Megan Rapinoe
OL Reign forward Megan Rapinoe and the United States Women’s National Team are set to begin their 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign tonight at 6:00 p.m. PT against Vietnam. After joining OL Reign in 2013, Rapinoe cemented her place as a leader on the team and is set to participate in her fourth and final World Cup.
LEAGUE PLAY
Rapinoe is a Reign original, having joined the club in its inaugural 2013 season. She currently holds the club record for most career goals scored with 48 and most assists with 25. She has made 109 appearances for the Reign, ranking fourth all-time for the club.
A leader on and off the field, Rapinoe has won three NWSL Shields with the Reign, one NWSL Best XI selection and five NWSL Second XI selections. She has also earned NWSL Player of the Month four times, tied for the most in league history, and has been named to the NWSL Best XI of the Month eight times. She is the all-time league leader in penalty kick goals (13) and is the sixth-most prolific NWSL player in all-time goals and assists.
In recent seasons, Rapinoe has been a top contributor to OL Reign’s success. In 2022 season, she played in 14 matches, marking her third-most appearances in a single season. The forward set a new club record for consecutive games with either a goal or an assist when she recorded six goals and four assists in seven consecutive games between August 2 and September 21. She was tied for the most goals scored by an OL reign played with seven and assists with four.
This season, Rapinoe has appeared in nine regular season games for OL Reign, scoring one goal and adding four assists. She has made 39 total crosses, in addition to 20 key passes. The forward has also connected 121 total passes, made four clearances and three interceptions.
Appearing twice in the Reign’s 2023 UKG Challenge Cup campaign, she has added another clearance and interception, as well as 15 passes, three key passes and four crosses.
The iconic OL Reign player announced that the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and 2023 NWSL season will be her last before she retires.
INTERNATIONAL
Forward Megan Rapinoe has 199 caps with the United States since making her debut on July 23, 2006, against the Republic of Ireland. Across nearly 200 appearances, Rapinoe has scored 63 goals and added 73 assists in her career with the national team. This will be her fourth and final World Cup.
Rapinoe made her first World Cup appearance in 2011, where she played in all six matches for USWNT, scoring one goal, adding three assists and taking home the second-place title. The forward was called up once again for the 2015 World Cup and scored two goals for the team. This time, the United States won the World Cup, marking Rapinoe’s first World Cup win.
Back for her third consecutive World Cup in 2019, Rapinoe scored five goals in the USWNT’s second World Cup win in a row. Notably, Rapinoe scored her 50th international goal on a penalty kick in the 61st minute of the championship match. After the tournament, the then-34-year-old was awarded the Golden Boot and Golden Ball awards. She also was named the Best FIFA Women's Player of the Year and the Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year.
Also an accomplished Olympian, Rapinoe helped the USA capture gold at the 2012 London Olympics. Her performance featured a two-goal performance in the epic semifinal match against Canada. The three-time Olympian also netted a brace in the 2021 Olympic Bronze Medal match against Australia, become the first player in USWNT history to have multiple multi-goal games at the Olympics.
Rapinoe ranks in the top 10 in USWNT history in both goals and assists and is one of the most impactful players – on and off the field – in USWNT history.