Rapinoe to have jersey retired; 2nd ever in NWSL
U.S. women’s national team legend Megan Rapinoe will have her No. 15 jersey retired by the Seattle Reign, becoming just the second NWSL player to receive such an honor, her former club announced Thursday.
Rapinoe, who played for the Reign from their inaugural season in 2013 until she ended her career at the end of 2023, will have her jersey officially retired during Seattle’s NWSL match against North Carolina Courage on Aug. 25 at Lumen Field.
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The only previous NWSL player to have her jersey retired was Lauren Holiday, with FC Kansas City in 2015.
“I have lived so much life in this jersey and I’m humbled to see it retire alongside me. It represents so much more than myself — a team, a city, and a lifetime of memories,” Rapinoe said in the team’s news release.
“Thank you to the Reign and to my teammates for the love, the support and the opportunity to leave a piece of my heart on the field.”
Rapinoe made 115 regular-season appearances and 11 more in the playoffs for the Reign, scoring 54 goals and adding 28 assists. She won the NWSL Shield with the club in 2014, 2015 and 2022.
“It’s nearly impossible to put into words the impact Pinoe has had in this sport, the league, this city and especially our club,” Seattle Reign coach Laura Harvey said in the release.
“She cemented herself as one of the greatest and we’re proud to celebrate all that she has accomplished on the field while wearing the number 15. She made an everlasting impact in our locker room through her loyalty, leadership, courage and commitment. We can’t wait to celebrate P later this season.”
Rapinoe was part of Women’s World Cup-winning teams with the USWNT in 2015 and 2019, making a total of 203 appearances for her country and tallying 63 goals and 73 assists.
An outspoken advocate for equal pay in women’s soccer and supporter of LGBTQIA+ rights, Rapinoe was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, in 2022 by President Joe Biden.