Megan Rapinoe
Midfielder / Winger · OL Reign · USA
About Megan Rapinoe
Megan Rapinoe is one of the most iconic and outspoken athletes of her generation — a gifted left winger whose performances at the 2019 World Cup, where she won Golden Boot and Golden Ball, were matched only by her global profile as an activist and advocate.
Megan Rapinoe's story
Redding & College
Megan Anna Rapinoe was born on 5 July 1985 in Redding, California, with her twin sister Rachael. Both played football at the University of Portland, where Megan's direct dribbling and crossing ability quickly attracted attention. She was drafted by the Philadelphia Independence in the inaugural WPS season in 2009.
The Assist & Seattle
Rapinoe delivered one of the most memorable assists in USWNT history — a Beckham-esque cross-field ball to Wambach's header against Brazil in the 2011 World Cup quarter-final. She made the OL Reign (then Seattle Reign) her long-term home, becoming their marquee player and a beloved figure in the Pacific Northwest.
2019 — Golden Ball & Golden Boot
The 2019 Women's World Cup in France was Rapinoe's tournament. She scored six goals, all from open play or set pieces, and delivered a series of performances that were breathtaking in quality and presence. She won both the Golden Boot (top scorer) and the Golden Ball (best player), dedicating her tournament to the LGBTQ+ community and publicly criticising the US President.
Activist & Legacy
Rapinoe came out publicly in 2012 and has been one of the most prominent LGBTQ+ athletes in the world. She co-led the USWNT's successful equal pay lawsuit against US Soccer, settled in 2022 for $24 million. She retired from football in October 2023 and is engaged to WNBA star Sue Bird, whom she has been with since 2016.
Did you know?
- Rapinoe's cross for Abby Wambach's famous header against Brazil in 2011 was a 40-metre pin-point delivery from the touchline — she later said she simply 'felt it' and went for it.
- She was the first openly gay athlete to win FIFA Women's World Player of the Year (2019) and the first openly gay player to score in a World Cup final.
- Rapinoe is engaged to WNBA legend Sue Bird; the couple have been together since 2016 and are widely considered one of the most high-profile sporting couples in the United States.
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