USWNT legend Megan Rapinoe to retire at end of 2023 season

United States ahead Megan Rapinoe introduced Saturday that she’s going to retire from skilled soccer at the conclusion of the 2023 National Women’s Soccer League season.

The 11-year league veteran and U.S. ladies’s nationwide workforce standout will play her closing regular-season match at Seattle’s Lumen Field on Oct. 6 in opposition to the Washington Spirit.

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Rapinoe, 38, is getting ready to compete with the two-time defending champion USWNT within the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which runs from July 20 to Aug. 20 in New Zealand and Australia.

Rapinoe additionally confirmed Saturday that this will likely be her closing World Cup.

“I’ve been able to have such an incredible career, and this game has brought me all over the world and allowed me to meet so many amazing people,” Rapinoe mentioned in a statement to U.S. Soccer.

“I feel incredibly grateful to have played as long as I have, to be as successful as we’ve been, and to have been a part of a generation of players who undoubtedly left the game better than they found it. To be able to play one last World Cup and one last NWSL season and go out on my own terms is incredibly special.”

Rapinoe joined the OL Reign through the NWSL’s inaugural season in 2013 and holds the membership data for targets (48) and assists (25) in 109 matches.

She has received three NWSL Shields with the Reign and earned one Best XI and two Second XI alternatives. She can be the league’s all-time chief with 13 penalty kick targets.

Internationally, Rapinoe has earned 199 caps and a 2012 Olympic gold medal together with the World Cup victories in 2015 and 2019. In 2019, she was named Best FIFA Women’s Player and received the Ballon d’Or Feminin.

Rapinoe has 63 targets and 73 assists with the USWNT whereas compiling a file of 157-14-28.

“I want to thank my family for being by my side all these years,” Rapinoe added. “Thanks to all my teammates and coaches all the way back to my first days in Redding, on to college at the University of Portland and of course thanks to U.S. Soccer, the Seattle Reign and especially Sue [Bird], for everything.

“I’ll without end cherish the friendships and assist through the years on this recreation, and I’m past excited for one final journey with the National Team and the Reign.”

Information from Reuters was included on this report.