Megan Rapinoe received an emotional farewell as she was honored by OL Reign during her final home game before her retirement.
The two-time world champion bid farewell to her club in front of a record crowd of 34,130 National Women’s Soccer League fans, many of whom wore pink wigs in tribute to her.
With her family and fiancée Sue Bird looking on, Rapinoe debuted for the Reign in a scoreless draw against the Washington Spirit as the Lumen Field PA system played “Ain’t No Sunshine When She’s Gone” when she entered the field with her team. friends.
“I know my impact, but it’s one thing to know it, and another to really feel it and see it. See some of the signs and the pink wigs and see what that means to people,” Rapinoe said.
“It is difficult to put into words this deep feeling of gratitude, joy and gratitude for being able to experience a moment like this.”
The forward has spent her entire 11-season NWSL career with the Seattle club as Friday night’s match marked her final regular-season home game.
Rapinoe’s teammates wore No. 15 warm-up jerseys before a video tribute featuring sports icons, including tennis legend Billie Jean King and Seattle baseball great Ken Griffey Jr., aired at Lumen Field.
“It feels like home. It was always the safest place,” Rapinoe said. “It was always the place where I could be myself.
“To be able to play here my whole career, in one city, it’s really special to be able to have that.”
The 38-year-old Olympic champion and 2019 Ballon d’Or winner announced earlier this year that she would retire at the end of the NWSL season.
Rapinoe played her final match with the U.S. national team last month in Chicago.
Rapinoe played in 114 regular season games for the Reign and scored 49 goals. Reign will finish the season next week on the road against the Chicago Red Stars.