Same Rapinoe, different role with women’s national squad
Known for her iconic victory pose at the 2019 World Cup in France, Megan Rapinoe’s on-field role on the U.S. national team is changing as the team looks to qualify for the 2023 event.
The wily winger is now 36 and admittedly slowing a bit. Off the field, however, Rapinoe is outspoken as ever.
“I feel like I’m really enjoying and appreciating being back here and appreciating this moment and appreciating where I’ve been and how far I’ve come, and just all the people that are with me and have been on this journey forever,” she said. “I don’t know, I feel really present in this moment.”
Rapinoe is among the veterans who will play in the upcoming CONCACAF W Championship, starting today in Monterrey, Mexico. The tournament determines the region’s four direct spots in next summer’s World Cup co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, as well as a berth at the 2024 Olympics.
The team has a bunch of new faces since it won the bronze medal at the Tokyo Games, including Sophia Smith, Ashley Sanchez, Alana Cook, Mallory Pugh and up-and-comer Trinity Rodman.
“The thing with Megan is that she is very important for this group. I mean, obviously, this is a younger group that we’re bringing in. There are lots of young players. So her experience going through adversity, going through tough times and getting on top, her mentality — winning mentality — her knowledge and understanding, is very valuable for the group,” U.S. coach Vlatko Andonovski said.
Rapinoe, has scored 62 goals with 72 assists in 189 appearances with the national team since her first call-up in 2006. She scored on a penalty kick in the United States’ victory over the Netherlands in the 2019 World Cup final, and scored two goals in the victory over Australia for the bronze in Tokyo last summer.
But along the way she’d been unafraid to use her voice and her platform to call attention to social justice issues. As an out gay woman, she’s been especially passionate about LGBTQ issues.
She’s backed up her words with action: She faced blowback for kneeling before two national team matches in 2016 in solidarity with Colin Kaepernick.
She was among the athletes who signed on to an amicus brief in the lawsuit challenging an Idaho law that banned transgender athletes from participating in school sports.