History of Megan Rapinoe in Timeline
Megan Rapinoe is a retired American professional soccer player, primarily a winger, renowned for her career with OL Reign in the NWSL and the United States national team. Acknowledged as one of the best, she won the Ballon d'Or Féminin and The Best FIFA Women's Player in 2019. Rapinoe secured gold medals at the 2012 London Olympics, the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, and the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup. She was also a key player in the 2011 World Cup team that finished second. She co-captained the national team from 2018 to 2020, alongside Carli Lloyd and Alex Morgan. Beyond the US team, she played for Chicago Red Stars, Philadelphia Independence, and magicJack in WPS, and Lyon Women in France.
July 5, 1985: Megan Rapinoe's Birth
On July 5, 1985, Megan Anna Rapinoe was born. She later became a professional soccer player.
1999: Selection to the Under-14 Northern California ODP Team
In 1999, Rapinoe played for the under-14 Northern California state Olympic Development Program (ODP) team.
2002: Joins Elk Grove Pride
In 2002, Megan Rapinoe joined Elk Grove Pride in the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL).
2002: Selection to the regional ODP Team
In 2002, Rapinoe was selected for the regional Olympic Development Program (ODP) team.
January 2003: First camp with under-19 team
In January 2003, Megan Rapinoe attended her first camp with the United States under-19 team in Chula Vista, California.
March 1, 2003: First goal with under-19 team
On March 1, 2003, Megan Rapinoe scored her first goal with the United States under-19 team against Mexico.
July 2003: European tour with under-19 team
In July 2003, Megan Rapinoe traveled with the United States under-19 team during a European tour to the Netherlands and Germany.
2004: Played in 2004 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship
In 2004, Rapinoe played in the 2004 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship, where the United States finished third, causing her to miss playing college soccer that year.
2004: McDonald's All-American
In 2004, Rapinoe was named to the McDonald's All-American Girls High School Soccer West Team.
2005: Played for United States under-19 team
From 2003 to 2005, Megan Rapinoe played for the United States under-19 team, making 21 appearances and scoring nine goals.
2005: Runner-up at US Youth Soccer National Championships
In 2005, Elk Grove United, with Rapinoe, finished second at the US Youth Soccer National Championships.
2005: NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship
In 2005, as a freshman, Rapinoe helped the Portland Pilots to an undefeated season and the NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship, earning multiple awards and recognitions.
July 23, 2006: Debut for senior team
On July 23, 2006, Megan Rapinoe made her debut for the United States senior team during a friendly match against Ireland.
October 1, 2006: Scored first two goals for senior team
On October 1, 2006, Megan Rapinoe scored her first two goals for the United States senior team during a friendly match against Taiwan.
2006: First ACL Injury
In 2006, during a match against Washington State University on October 5, Rapinoe suffered her first season-ending anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
2007: Missed World Cup due to ACL injury
In 2007, Megan Rapinoe did not play for the senior team due to an ACL injury and subsequently missed the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup.
2007: Second ACL Injury
In 2007, Rapinoe suffered her second season-ending ACL injury two games into the season.
2008: Missed Olympics due to ACL injury
In 2008, Megan Rapinoe did not play for the senior team due to an ACL injury and subsequently missed the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
2008: Return to the Pilots
In 2008, Rapinoe returned to the Pilots after recovering from her second ACL injury, starting in all 22 games and earning West Coast Conference Player of the Year honors.
August 2009: Named to WPS All-Star Team
In August 2009, Megan Rapinoe was named to the league's All-Star Team and played in the 2009 WPS All-Star Game against Swedish Damallsvenskan champions Umeå.
2009: Scored game-winning goal against Norway
During the 2009 Algarve Cup, Megan Rapinoe scored the game-winning goal against Norway, leading the team to a 1–0 victory.
2009: Began relationship with Sarah Walsh
In 2009, Megan Rapinoe began a relationship with Australian soccer player Sarah Walsh.
2009: Led team in points
Upon her return to the team in 2009, Megan Rapinoe led the team in points with five, including two goals and one assist.
December 2010: Signed with Philadelphia Independence
In December 2010, Rapinoe signed with expansion team Philadelphia Independence.
2010: Season with the Chicago Red Stars
In 2010, Megan Rapinoe started in 19 of the 20 games in which she appeared for the Chicago Red Stars, scoring one goal.
August 17, 2011: Goal in WPS Semi-Finals
On August 17, 2011, Rapinoe scored a goal in the 61st minute of the WPS semi-final match against the Boston Breakers, helping MagicJack advance to the championship final.
October 2011: Signs with Sydney FC
In October 2011, Megan Rapinoe signed with Australian W-League team Sydney FC as a guest player.
October 25, 2011: WPS Terminates MagicJack Franchise
On October 25, 2011, the WPS voted to terminate the MagicJack franchise, leaving Rapinoe and many other players as free agents for the 2012 season.
2011: "Megan Rapinoe Day" in Redding
Following the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, Megan Rapinoe's hometown of Redding honored her with a parade and named September 10 "Megan Rapinoe Day", celebrating her achievements.
2011: 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Second Place
In 2011, Rapinoe played in the FIFA Women's World Cup, where the U.S. finished second.
2011: Helped US earn berth to 2011 World Cup
In 2011, during the team's second match of the series, Megan Rapinoe served the assist for Amy Rodriguez's game-winning goal helping the United States earn a berth to the 2011 World Cup.
February 12, 2012: Harry Glickman Award
On February 12, 2012, Megan Rapinoe received the Harry Glickman Professional Female Athlete of the Year award at the 60th annual Oregon Sports Awards.
July 2012: Publicly came out as lesbian
In July 2012, Megan Rapinoe publicly came out as a lesbian in an interview with Out magazine, also stating that she had been in a relationship with Sarah Walsh since 2009.
July 2012: Featured in Out Magazine
In July 2012, Megan Rapinoe was featured in an edition of Out magazine, marking her presence in LGBTQ+ media.
August 6, 2012: Profiled on Sports Illustrated
On August 6, 2012, Megan Rapinoe was profiled in an edition of Sports Illustrated, highlighting her rising prominence.
October 25, 2012: FIFA World Player of the Year Nomination
On October 25, 2012, Megan Rapinoe was one of ten female soccer players shortlisted for the FIFA Women's World Player of the Year award, recognizing her excellence in soccer.
November 10, 2012: Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center Award
On November 10, 2012, Megan Rapinoe was awarded the Board of Directors Award by the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center for bringing awareness to LGBT people in sports.
November 2012: Fox Soccer Exclusive Feature
In November 2012, Megan Rapinoe was the focus of a Fox Soccer feature, Fox Soccer Exclusive: Megan Rapinoe, highlighting her soccer career.
2012: 2012 London Olympics success
During the 2012 London Olympics, Megan Rapinoe scored three goals and had a team-high four assists, helping the United States win a gold medal. She also became the first player, male or female, to score a goal directly from a corner twice at the Olympic Games in 2012.
2012: Plays for Seattle Sounders Women
During the summer of 2012, Rapinoe joined the Seattle Sounders Women, making two appearances and serving two assists.
2012: Career-best year for goals and assists
In 2012, Megan Rapinoe achieved a career-best eight goals and 12 assists for the United States.
2012: Won gold medal at London Olympics
In 2012, Megan Rapinoe helped lead the United States to a gold medal at the Olympic Games in London, scoring the game-winning goal against Colombia in the group stage.
2012: 2012 London Summer Olympics Gold Medal
In 2012, Rapinoe won a gold medal with the United States national team at the London Summer Olympics.
2012: WPS Suspends Operations
In early 2012, the Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) league suspended operations, making Rapinoe a free agent.
2012: Champions League Debut
Rapinoe made her UEFA Women's Champions League debut in 2012, scoring one goal during her 24 minutes on the pitch contributing to Lyon's 5–0 final victory.
January 2013: Signs with Lyon
In January 2013, Rapinoe signed for six months with Lyon, a French side, for a reported €11000 (or approximately $14000) a month.
March 2013: Algarve Cup Player of the Tournament
In March 2013, Megan Rapinoe was named Player of the Tournament at the 2013 Algarve Cup, which the U.S. won. She tallied a goal and assist in two games played.
March 2013: Cover of Curve Magazine
Megan Rapinoe was featured on the cover of the March 2013 edition of Curve magazine, an important moment for LGBTQ+ representation.
April 11, 2013: Featured in The New York Times
On April 11, 2013, The New York Times featured an article about Megan Rapinoe's experiences in France, with the national team, and her decision to come out publicly before the 2012 Olympics.
June 20, 2013: Assist for Wambach's record-breaking goal
On June 20, 2013, Megan Rapinoe assisted Abby Wambach's record-breaking 159th international goal during a friendly match against South Korea.
July 25, 2013: NWSL Player of the Week
On July 25, 2013, after scoring two goals and serving one assist during a 4–1 win over the Chicago Red Stars, Megan Rapinoe was named NWSL Player of the Week by the media for Week 16 of the 2013 NWSL season.
2013: Named Player of the Tournament at Algarve Cup
At the 2013 Algarve Cup in Portugal, Megan Rapinoe was named the Player of the Tournament, despite being injured and missing the final.
2013: Second Season at Lyon
During the 2013–14 Champions League, she made four appearances for Lyon and scored one goal during the team's 6–0 defeat of Twente.
2013: Ended relationship with Sarah Walsh
In 2013, Megan Rapinoe and Sarah Walsh ended their relationship after approximately five years together.
2013: Endorsement deal with Wildfang
In 2013, Megan Rapinoe appeared in advertisements for the clothing company Wildfang and began a partnership with medical device company, DJO Global.
2013: Became ambassador for Athlete Ally
In 2013, Megan Rapinoe became an ambassador for Athlete Ally, a nonprofit organization that focuses on ending homophobia and transphobia in sports.
2013: Joins Seattle Reign FC
In 2013, Rapinoe joined Seattle Reign FC and was later named NWSL Player of the Week for Week 16.
2013: Board of Directors Award from the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center
In 2013, Rapinoe received the Board of Directors Award from the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center for her advocacy.
January 2014: Returns to Seattle Reign
In January 2014, it was announced that Rapinoe had ended her time with Lyon earlier than planned and would be returning to the Seattle Reign for the entire 2014 season.
July 2014: Featured in ESPN's The Body Issue
In July 2014, Megan Rapinoe was featured in ESPN's The Body Issue, celebrating athletes' physiques.
December 2014: Inducted into Shasta County Sports Hall of Fame
In December 2014, Megan Rapinoe was inducted into the Shasta County Sports Hall of Fame along with several other athletes from Shasta County.
2014: Seattle Reign FC
After suffering a foot injury on April 14, 2014, Rapinoe returned to Seattle Reign FC, helping the team secure the NWSL Shield. She scored during the championship final, but the Reign was defeated.
August 2015: Announced engagement to Sera Cahoone
In August 2015, Megan Rapinoe and Sera Cahoone announced their engagement.
September 2015: Ranked No. 2 in FIFA 16
In September 2015, Megan Rapinoe was ranked by EA Sports as the No. 2 women's player following teammate Carli Lloyd in FIFA 16, marking her prominence in the virtual world.
2015: Stood in silence for national anthem
During the 2015 World Cup, Megan Rapinoe stood in silence for the national anthem and spoke out against the use of stadiums with artificial turf.
2015: Tore ACL during training
During training for a Victory Tour match in late 2015, Megan Rapinoe tore her anterior cruciate ligament, sidelining her from play.
2015: Ticker Tape Parade in New York City
Following the United States' win at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, Megan Rapinoe and her teammates became the first women's sports team to be honored with a ticker tape parade in New York City. Each player received a key to the city from Mayor Bill de Blasio. The team was also honored by President Barack Obama at the White House and the president made note of the Northern California farm that had built a corn maze in the shape of Rapinoe's face.
2015: National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame
In 2015, Megan Rapinoe was inducted into the National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame. Also in 2015, she was named NWSL Player of the Week for Week 1 of the 2015 NWSL season.
2015: 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup Gold Medal
In 2015, Rapinoe won the FIFA Women's World Cup with the United States national team.
2015: First Professional Hat Trick
In 2015, during the team's first match against Western New York Flash, Rapinoe scored her first professional hat trick and served an assist to Jess Fishlock, earning her NWSL Player of the Week for week 1 of the season.
September 4, 2016: Kneeling During National Anthem
On September 4, 2016, during a game in Chicago against the Red Stars, Megan Rapinoe knelt during the national anthem in solidarity with Colin Kaepernick, protesting racial injustice and minority oppression.
September 15, 2016: Continued National Anthem Protest
On September 15, 2016, Megan Rapinoe continued her protest by kneeling during the national anthem at the national team game against Thailand, prompting a statement from U.S. Soccer regarding expectations for players to honor the flag.
September 2016: Kneeled during national anthem
In September 2016, Megan Rapinoe garnered national attention for kneeling during the national anthem at an international match in solidarity with NFL player Colin Kaepernick.
2016: Endorsement deal with Vitamin Water and Nike Commercial
In 2016, Megan Rapinoe appeared in television commercials and print advertisements for Energy Brands' Vitamin Water. The same year, she was also featured in a Nike commercial starring Cristiano Ronaldo.
2016: Keeping Score Docu-series
In 2016, Megan Rapinoe starred with teammates Hope Solo and Crystal Dunn in a docu-series called Keeping Score broadcast by Fullscreen. The series followed the athletes as they prepared for the 2016 Rio Olympics and addressed issues such as equal pay and racism.
2016: Started dating Sue Bird
In late 2016, Megan Rapinoe began dating basketball player Sue Bird.
2016: Involved in equal pay complaint
Since at least 2016, Megan Rapinoe has been involved in the women's team's equal pay complaint to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
January 2017: Wedding plans on hold
In January 2017, Megan Rapinoe stated that her wedding plans with Sera Cahoone were on hold.
July 20, 2017: Confirmed relationship with Sue Bird
On July 20, 2017, Megan Rapinoe and basketball player Sue Bird confirmed that they had been dating since late 2016.
September 2017: Joined "Common Goal" campaign
In September 2017, Megan Rapinoe and U.S. teammate Alex Morgan joined the "Common Goal" campaign, pledging one percent of their wages to soccer-related charities.
2018: Co-Captain of the National Team
From 2018 to 2020, Rapinoe co-captained the United States women's national team.
2018: First same-sex couple on cover of ESPN's The Body Issue
In 2018, Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe became the first same-sex couple on the cover of ESPN's The Body Issue.
February 2019: Nike's Dream Crazier Ad
In February 2019, Megan Rapinoe was featured in Nike's "Dream Crazier" ad with Serena Williams, Simone Biles, Ibtihaj Muhammad, Chloe Kim, and other women athletes. The ad appeared during the 2019 Oscars, showcasing female empowerment.
March 2019: Filed lawsuit against US Soccer Federation
In March 2019, Megan Rapinoe, along with 27 of her US Women's soccer teammates, filed a lawsuit against the United States Soccer Federation accusing it of gender discrimination.
May 2019: Named to 2019 World Cup Roster
In May 2019, Megan Rapinoe was named to the United States' 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup roster, marking her third World Cup appearance.
September 2019: Recognized as Reign Legend
In September 2019, the Reign recognized Rapinoe as a Reign Legend, along with eight others.
December 2019: Endorsement of Elizabeth Warren
In December 2019, Megan Rapinoe endorsed Elizabeth Warren in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries.
2019: Second Ticker Tape Parade
Following the 2019 Women's World Cup, New York City honored the women's national team with a second ticker tape parade and were introduced by Robin Roberts at City Hall. Rapinoe and her teammates were also invited to the national capitol by Senator Chuck Schumer and Congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ayanna Pressley and Nancy Pelosi.
2019: Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue
In 2019, Megan Rapinoe became the first openly gay woman to be featured in the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, a significant milestone for LGBTQ+ visibility. She was also featured on multiple covers of Sports Illustrated, Marie Claire, and InStyle the same year.
2019: Endorsement deals with multiple companies
In 2019, Megan Rapinoe was sponsored by Procter & Gamble, BodyArmor, Hulu, LUNA Bar, and VISA, expanding her endorsement portfolio.
2019: Golden Boot and Golden Ball at Women's World Cup
In 2019, Megan Rapinoe won the Golden Boot (the second American to do so after Michelle Akers in 1999) and Golden Ball awards at the Women's World Cup in France. She was also Sports Illustrated's Sportsperson of the Year and was named The Best FIFA Women's Player.
2019: Ballon d'Or Féminin and The Best FIFA Women's Player
In 2019, Rapinoe won the Ballon d'Or Féminin and was named The Best FIFA Women's Player.
October 30, 2020: Announced engagement to Sue Bird
On October 30, 2020, Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird announced their engagement.
November 2020: Publication of Autobiography "One Life"
In November 2020, Megan Rapinoe published her autobiography, "One Life", which details her early life, career, activism, and personal relationships. The book became a New York Times bestseller and was optioned by Sony Pictures Television.
December 2020: "One Life" TV Series Adaptation
In December 2020, it was reported that Megan Rapinoe's bestselling memoir "One Life" is set to be adapted as a scripted TV series after Sony Pictures Television optioned the rights.
2020: Panel Host at Democratic National Convention
During the opening night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Megan Rapinoe hosted a panel with frontline workers of the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020: End of Co-Captaincy of the National Team
From 2018 to 2020, Rapinoe co-captained the United States women's national team.
2020: Participated in the 2020 Summer Olympics
In 2020, Megan Rapinoe participated in the Summer Olympics, where she later contributed to a win against Australia in the bronze medal match on August 5, 2021.
2020: Spokeswoman for Loewe
In 2020, Megan Rapinoe signed a contract to be the spokeswoman for international luxury fashion brand Loewe, marking her entry into high fashion.
2020: Best in Sports Shorty Award
In 2020, Megan Rapinoe won the Best in Sports Shorty Award, recognizing her influence in sports media and culture.
2020: Inclusion in Time's 100 Most Influential People
In 2020, Rapinoe was included in Time's 100 Most Influential People.
2020: Discussed brother's struggles with drug abuse
In a 2020 interview with Terry Gross on Fresh Air, Megan Rapinoe discussed her older brother's struggles with drug abuse and involvement with white supremacist groups in prison.
August 5, 2021: Scored twice in Olympic bronze medal match
On August 5, 2021, Megan Rapinoe scored twice in a 4–3 win over Australia in the bronze medal match of the 2020 Summer Olympics.
August 2021: Named NWSL Player of the Month
In August 2021, Megan Rapinoe was named NWSL Player of the Month, recognizing her outstanding performance during the season.
September 2021: Signed amicus brief supporting abortion rights
Back in September 2021, Megan Rapinoe was one of five hundred former and current athletes who signed an amicus brief supporting abortion rights for the Supreme Court case.
2021: Face of Victoria's Secret and Subway Ads
In 2021, Megan Rapinoe was announced as one of the new faces of Victoria's Secret and appeared in ads for Subway, broadening her reach into new markets.
February 2022: Not included on SheBelieves Cup roster
In February 2022, Megan Rapinoe was not included on the national team roster for the SheBelieves Cup, as announced by U.S. women's national team coach Vlatko Andonovski.
June 2022: Criticized Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade
In June 2022, Megan Rapinoe criticized the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
July 1, 2022: Presidential Medal of Freedom Announcement
On July 1, 2022, the White House announced that Megan Rapinoe would be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor.
July 7, 2022: Presidential Medal of Freedom
On July 7, 2022, Megan Rapinoe was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest honor given to civilians, by President Joe Biden in a ceremony at the White House. She was among a group of 17 honorees that included Simone Biles.
July 2022: Presidential Medal of Freedom
In July 2022, Rapinoe received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Joe Biden.
2022: "Victory Redefined" Collection with Nike
In 2022, Megan Rapinoe designed her own logo and a limited collection entitled "Victory Redefined" in collaboration with Nike, showcasing her design skills.
January 2023: ESPN's SportsCenter Commercial
In January 2023, Megan Rapinoe co-starred in a commercial for ESPN's SportsCenter with Becky Sauerbrunn and Sophia Smith.
July 8, 2023: Retirement Announcement
On July 8, 2023, Megan Rapinoe announced her retirement from professional soccer at the end of the 2023 National Women's Soccer League season.
July 2023: Google Pixel Commercial "Legend"
In July 2023, Megan Rapinoe starred in a television commercial for Google Pixel called "Legend", showcasing her influence in advertising.
July 17, 2023: Netflix Documentary Announcement
On July 17, 2023, it was announced that Megan Rapinoe will be one of the players featured in an upcoming Netflix documentary about the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team competing in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The docu-series is slated to premiere in the fall.
August 6, 2023: USWNT knocked out of World Cup
On August 6, 2023, the USWNT was knocked out of the tournament on penalties against Sweden in the Round of 16, with Rapinoe missing a penalty kick in her final World Cup match.
2023: Included in LEGO's Icons of Play set
In 2023, Megan Rapinoe was included in LEGO's Icons of Play set, celebrating her influence beyond sports.
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