Megan Rapinoe has decided to hang up her boots after the 2023 NWSL season. Rapinoe has already retired from the USWNT and earned around $5 million during this period. However, it’s no wonder that the USWNT legend’s retirement decision has shocked the soccer world. She recently shed light on what she wanted to do after retiring from the game.

Megan Rapinoe has been one of the instrumental players in bringing a change in the U.S. Soccer. Her contributions along with her counterpart, Alex Morgan, have been a beacon of change for the future generations. Rapinoe’s story is one filled with hardships and turmoil but she has never let it get the best of her.

Megan Rapinoe has a lot on her plate

Megan Rapinoe, who plays for OL Reign in the NWSL, talked about her post-retirement plans. The former USWNT player had a cheeky smile as she replied, “Wouldn’t you like to know”. After that, Rapinoe reminisced about what she’s got in her mind for the future.

In a press conference, Megan Rapinoe shared her plans as she said, “I think a lot of the same. I have an amazing partnership with Nike that feels like we are just getting started on. Soon I have a production company that we can’t wait to really get into. I’m gonna be a part of this next phase of women’s sports not just soccer even beyond that.”

Known to be active lot in the development of women’s sports in her country, she also spoke about how she wanted to be a part of the next phase of women’s sports, “I feel like not just me but so many players in this generation been such a huge part in building the foundation, you know the beginning stages of what is a really exciting time in women sports. So I’m not gonna miss out on any of it, I’m just afraid not to be a part of it. I think I have so much to offer.”

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Megan Rapinoe’s journey hasn’t been a fairytale. She has had to fight to make herself known in the squad and as a USWNT player. Rapinoe earlier gave a little detail on how she started at the team and it gives a lot of insight into how things have been for her in the start.

Making her mark in the USWNT squad and her battle for equal pay rights

Rapinoe, relatively unknown when she joined the USWNT, stood in the shadow of legends like Abby Wambach and Mia Hamm. However, she believed in forging her own path. Gradually, Rapinoe’s leadership shone through, culminating in historic victories, including the 2012 London Olympics gold medal and back-to-back World Cup wins in 2015 and 2019. Her iconic purple hairstyle became a symbol of her individuality, and her fame soared when she scored an Olympic goal directly from a corner.

But Rapinoe’s impact transcended the pitch. She was a vocal advocate for equal pay for women in soccer and, in 2016, was one of five women who filed an equal pay complaint. Her persistence paid off when, in 2022, a landmark settlement of $24 million was reached, marking a significant victory in the battle for equal pay rights in women’s sports. Megan Rapinoe not only made her mark in the USWNT squad but also left an indelible legacy in the fight for gender equality in sports.

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Megan Rapinoe plays her last season with OL Reign as a professional soccer player. The supporters and fans of the USWNT legend will cherish every last game there is to play for her. And when she retires it will a sad day for U.S. soccer and sports.