Career Timeline of Megan Rapinoe: Major Achievements and Milestones

How Megan Rapinoe built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Megan Rapinoe is a retired American professional soccer player renowned for her skill as a winger. Primarily playing for OL Reign and the United States national team, she achieved significant accolades, including the Ballon d'Or Féminin and The Best FIFA Women's Player in 2019. Rapinoe secured Olympic gold in 2012 and FIFA Women's World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019, also contributing to the U.S.'s second-place finish in the 2011 World Cup. She served as co-captain of the national team from 2018 to 2020. Her professional career also included stints with Chicago Red Stars, Philadelphia Independence, and magicJack in the WPS, as well as Lyon Women in France.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

2002: Joins Elk Grove Pride

From 2002 to 2005, Megan Rapinoe played for Elk Grove Pride in the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) along with her sister, Rachael, and future national teammate, Stephanie Cox.

2002: Played for United States under-16 national soccer team

In 2002, Rapinoe played for the United States under-16 national soccer team and traveled with the team to France and Houston, Texas.

January 2003: First camp with the under-19 team

In January 2003, Rapinoe had her first camp with the United States under-19 team in Chula Vista, California.

March 1, 2003: First goal with the under-19 team

On March 1, 2003, Rapinoe scored her first goal with the United States under-19 team against Mexico.

May 2003: Played at United States Youth Soccer Association International Tournament

In May 2003, Rapinoe played at the United States Youth Soccer Association International Tournament in Houston.

July 2003: European tour with the under-19 team

In July 2003, Rapinoe traveled with the United States under-19 team during a European tour to the Netherlands and Germany.

2003: First camp with the under-19 team

In January 2003, Rapinoe had her first camp with the United States under-19 team in Chula Vista, California. In July 2003, she traveled with the team during a European tour to the Netherlands and Germany. On March 1, 2003, she scored her first goal with the team against Mexico.

2004: Played in the 2004 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship

In 2004, Rapinoe played in three matches at the CONCACAF Under-19 qualifying tournament, scoring three goals. During the 2004 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship in Thailand she scored a team-high three goals, including one in the third-place match victory against Brazil.

2005: Continues with Elk Grove Pride

From 2002 to 2005, Megan Rapinoe played for Elk Grove Pride in the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) along with her sister, Rachael, and future national teammate, Stephanie Cox.

2005: Played for the United States under-19 team

From 2003 to 2005, Rapinoe played for the United States under-19 team. She made 21 appearances and scored nine goals.

July 23, 2006: Debut for the senior team

On July 23, 2006, Rapinoe made her debut for the United States women's national soccer team during a friendly match against Ireland.

October 1, 2006: First two goals for the senior team

On October 1, 2006, Rapinoe scored her first two goals for the United States women's national soccer team during a friendly match against Taiwan.

2009: Scored game-winning goal against Norway in Algarve Cup

During the 2009 Algarve Cup, Rapinoe scored the game-winning goal against Norway, securing a 1–0 victory for the team in their third group stage match. The U.S. finished at the top of their group but was defeated in the championship final by Sweden in a penalty kick shootout.

2009: Return to the team and led in points

Upon her return to the team in 2009, Rapinoe led the team in points with five, including two goals and one assist. She started in six of the seven games she played that year.

December 2010: Signed with Philadelphia Independence

In December 2010, Megan Rapinoe signed with expansion team Philadelphia Independence.

2010: Season with 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.

2010: Played in the 2010 CONCACAF Women's World Cup Qualifying Tournament

In 2010, Rapinoe started eight of the ten games she played and scored four goals with two assists. She scored against Sweden and China and twice against Guatemala at the 2010 CONCACAF Women's World Cup Qualifying Tournament, in which she played three games.

October 2011: Signed with Sydney FC

In October 2011, Megan Rapinoe signed with Australian W-League team Sydney FC as a guest player for two games.

October 25, 2011: MagicJack Franchise Termination

On October 25, 2011, the WPS voted to terminate the MagicJack franchise, leaving Megan 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".

2011: Scored at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup

In 2011, Rapinoe was named to the United States roster for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. During the team's second group stage match against Colombia, she scored almost immediately after entering the match in the 50th minute. Rapinoe celebrated her goal by singing Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A." into an on-field microphone.

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2011: Assisted game-winning goal against Italy

In 2011, after the United States finished third at the 2010 CONCACAF tournament, they played against Italy in the UEFA-CONCACAF play-off. During the team's second match of the series, Rapinoe assisted Amy Rodriguez's game-winning goal, helping the United States earn a spot at the 2011 FIFA Women's 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: Featured in Out

Megan Rapinoe was featured in the July 2012 edition of Out magazine.

August 6, 2012: Profiled on Sports Illustrated

On August 6, 2012, Megan Rapinoe was profiled on the Sports Illustrated magazine.

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.

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 Feature

In November 2012, Megan Rapinoe was the focus of a Fox Soccer feature, Fox Soccer Exclusive: Megan Rapinoe.

2012: Plays with Seattle Sounders Women

During the summer of 2012, Megan Rapinoe joined fellow national team members to play with the Seattle Sounders Women in between camps with the national team as they prepared for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

2012: Achieved career-best eight goals and 12 assists

In 2012, Rapinoe achieved a career-best performance with eight goals and 12 assists for the United States.

2012: Won gold medal at the 2012 Olympic Games

In 2012, Rapinoe helped lead the United States to a gold medal at the Olympic Games in London. During the team's second group stage match against Colombia, she scored the game-winning goal in the 33rd minute, contributing to a 3–0 win. The U.S. defeated North Korea 1–0 and New Zealand 2-0 in the quarterfinals.

2012: Suspension of WPS Operations

In early 2012, the Women's Professional Soccer league suspended operations, making Megan Rapinoe a free agent.

2012: UEFA Women's Champions League Debut

Megan Rapinoe made her UEFA Women's Champions League debut during the first leg of the 2012–13 quarterfinal against Malmö on March 20. She scored one goal during her 24 minutes on the pitch contributing to Lyon's 5–0 final victory. She made five appearances, scoring two goals and serving one assist. Lyon was defeated 1–0 in the final against German side VfL Wolfsburg on May 23.

January 2013: Signed with Lyon

In January 2013, Megan Rapinoe signed for six months with Lyon, a French side.

March 2013: Cover of Curve

In March 2013, Megan Rapinoe was featured on the cover of Curve.

March 2013: Player of the Tournament at Algarve Cup

In March 2013, Megan Rapinoe was named Player of the Tournament at the 2013 Algarve Cup, which the U.S. won.

April 11, 2013: Article in The New York Times

On April 11, 2013, an edition of The New York Times featured an article about Megan Rapinoe's experiences in France, with the national team, and coming out publicly before the 2012 Olympics.

June 20, 2013: Assist for Wambach's record-breaking goal

On June 20, 2013, during a friendly match against South Korea, Rapinoe assisted Abby Wambach's record-breaking 159th international goal. Later, in a friendly against New Zealand, Rapinoe scored the game-opening goal on a direct free kick and was named Player of the Match.

July 25, 2013: NWSL Player of the Week

On July 25, 2013, Megan Rapinoe was named NWSL Player of the Week for Week 16 of the 2013 NWSL season after scoring two goals and serving one assist during a 4–1 win over the Chicago Red Stars.

2013: Continues with Lyon

After returning to Lyon for the 2013–14 season, Megan Rapinoe scored three goals in her eight appearances for the club. 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. Lyon was eliminated in the Round of 16.

2013: Advertisements and Partnership

In 2013, Megan Rapinoe appeared in advertisements for Wildfang, a clothing company, and began a partnership with DJO Global, a medical device company.

2013: Joins Seattle Reign FC

In 2013, Megan Rapinoe joined Seattle Reign FC to which she had been previously allocated in the National Women's Soccer League. She was named NWSL Player of the Week for Week 16 for the 2013 NWSL season.

2013: Board of Directors Award

In 2013, Megan Rapinoe received the Board of Directors Award from the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center for her advocacy for numerous LGBTQIA+ organizations, including GLSEN and Athlete Ally.

2013: Became an ambassador for Athlete Ally

In 2013, Rapinoe became an ambassador for Athlete Ally, a nonprofit organization that focuses on ending homophobia and transphobia in sports.

2013: Named Player of the Tournament at the Algarve Cup

In 2013, at the Algarve Cup in Portugal, Rapinoe was named the Player of the Tournament, despite playing in only two of the four matches in which the United States competed. She was injured in practice and did not play during the final.

January 2014: Leaves Lyon

In January 2014, it was announced that Megan 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.

December 2014: Induction 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: Season with Seattle Reign FC

In 2014, Megan Rapinoe helped the Reign secure the league's regular-season title (NWSL Shield). During the team's playoff semi-final match against Washington Spirit, Rapinoe scored a goal helping the Reign win 2–1 and advance to the championship final against Kansas City. Despite Rapinoe's goal during the championship final, the Reign was ultimately defeated by Kansas City 2–1.

April 2015: Named to 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup roster

In April 2015, Rapinoe was named to the roster for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada. During the team's first group stage match against Australia, she scored the game opening goal in the 12th minute and scored a second goal in the 78th minute. The United States won 3–1.

September 2015: EA Sports Ranking

In September 2015, Megan Rapinoe was ranked by EA Sports as the No. 2 women's player, following teammate Carli Lloyd.

2015: Ticker Tape Parade in NYC

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. Later in 2015, the team was honored by President Barack Obama at the White House, and the president mentioned 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 Induction

In 2015, Megan Rapinoe was inducted into the National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame and also named NWSL Player of the Week for Week 1 of the 2015 NWSL season.

2015: First professional hat trick

In 2015, during a match against Western New York Flash, Rapinoe scored her first professional hat trick and assisted Jess Fishlock, leading the Reign to a 5–1 victory. She was named NWSL Player of the Week for her performance.

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 to protest racial injustice and minority oppression.

September 15, 2016: Continued Protest and U.S. Soccer Statement

On September 15, 2016, Megan Rapinoe continued her protest during the national team game against Thailand. U.S. Soccer then issued a statement regarding players honoring the flag and national anthem.

2016: Commercials and Advertisements

In 2016, Megan Rapinoe appeared in television commercials and print advertisements for Energy Brands' Vitamin Water. In the same year, she was 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 episodes follow the athletes as they prepare for the 2016 Rio Olympics and address issues such as equal pay and racism.

2016: Involved in equal pay complaint

Since at least 2016, Rapinoe has been involved in the women's team's equal pay complaint to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

September 2017: Signed up for "Common Goal" campaign

In September 2017, Rapinoe and U.S. teammate Alex Morgan joined the "Common Goal" campaign created by Juan Mata, donating one percent of their individual wages to soccer-related charities. They were the first two women players to sign on to the campaign.

2018: Co-Captaincy of National Team

From 2018 to 2020, Megan Rapinoe co-captained the United States national team alongside Carli Lloyd and Alex Morgan.

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.

March 2019: Filed lawsuit against the United States Soccer Federation

In March 2019, Rapinoe, along with 27 of her U.S. Women's soccer teammates, filed a lawsuit against the United States Soccer Federation accusing it of gender discrimination, hoping to achieve equal pay.

May 2019: Named to the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup roster

In May 2019, Rapinoe was named to the United States' 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup roster, marking her third World Cup appearance. She contributed a goal in a 13–0 win over Thailand during the group stage. She scored twice in a 2-1 victory against Spain and scored two goals against France in the fifth minute.

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, introduced by Robin Roberts at City Hall. Megan 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 in the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. She was featured on multiple covers of Sports Illustrated, Marie Claire, and InStyle the same year.

2019: Sponsorships

In 2019, Megan Rapinoe was sponsored by Procter & Gamble, BodyArmor, Hulu, LUNA Bar, and VISA.

2019: Awards at Women's World Cup

In 2019, Megan Rapinoe won the Golden Boot and Golden Ball awards at the Women's World Cup in France, becoming the second American to win the Golden Boot. She was also named Sports Illustrated's Sportsperson of the Year and The Best FIFA Women's Player.

2019: Scored in the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup Final

In 2019, Rapinoe scored her 50th international goal on a penalty kick in the 61st minute of the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup Final. The United States defeated the Netherlands 2–0 to win its second consecutive World Cup championship. Rapinoe was named Player of the Match, awarded the Golden Boot as the top scorer, and earned the Golden Ball as the best player at the tournament.

November 2020: Publication of "One Life" Autobiography

In November 2020, Megan Rapinoe published her autobiography, "One Life", which details her early life, career highlights and setbacks, activism, and personal relationships. The book became a New York Times best seller.

One Life

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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.

One Life

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2020: Democratic National Convention Panel

During the opening night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Megan Rapinoe hosted a panel with frontline workers of the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020: Co-Captaincy of National Team

From 2018 to 2020, Megan Rapinoe co-captained the United States national team alongside Carli Lloyd and Alex Morgan.

2020: Spokeswoman for Loewe

In 2020, Megan Rapinoe signed a contract to be the spokeswoman for the international luxury fashion brand Loewe.

2020: Best in Sports Shorty Award

In 2020, Megan Rapinoe won the Best in Sports Shorty Award.

2020: Participated in the 2020 Summer Olympics

In 2020, Rapinoe participated in the 2020 Summer Olympics.

August 5, 2021: Scored twice in bronze medal match

On August 5, 2021, Rapinoe scored twice (including a second Olympic Olimpico) 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, Rapinoe was named NWSL Player of the Month, after scoring six goals in 12 appearances. The Reign finished second in the regular season but were eliminated in the NWSL Playoffs.

September 2021: Signed Amicus Brief Supporting Abortion Rights

In September 2021, Megan Rapinoe was among five hundred former and current athletes who signed an amicus brief supporting abortion rights for the Supreme Court case.

2021: 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.

June 2022: Criticism of Roe v. Wade Overturn

In June 2022, Megan Rapinoe criticized the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, joining several other athletes in expressing their disapproval of the ruling.

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.

July 7, 2022: Presentation of Presidential Medal of Freedom

On July 7, 2022, Megan Rapinoe was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Joe Biden in a ceremony at the White House, among a group of 17 honorees that included Simone Biles.

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.

January 2023: SportsCenter Commercial

In January 2023, Megan Rapinoe co-starred in a commercial for ESPN's SportsCenter with Becky Sauerbrunn and Sophia Wilson.

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June 21, 2023: Named to the United States squad for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup

On June 21, 2023, Andonovski named Rapinoe to the United States squad for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia.

July 8, 2023: Retirement Announcement

On July 8, 2023, Megan Rapinoe announced that she would retire from professional soccer after the 2023 National Women's Soccer League season.

July 2023: Google Pixel Commercial

In July 2023, Megan Rapinoe starred in a television commercial for Google Pixel called "Legend".

Google Pixel 9 - Unlocked Android Smartphone with Gemini, 24-Hour Battery, Advanced Camera, and 6.3" Actua Display - Obsidian - 128 GB

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July 17, 2023: Netflix Documentary Announcement

On July 17, 2023, it was announced that Megan Rapinoe would 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.

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August 6, 2023: USWNT Knocked out of the tournament

On August 6, 2023, the USWNT was knocked out of the tournament on penalties against Sweden in the Round of 16. Rapinoe was one of the three U.S. players to miss a penalty kick in what would be Rapinoe's final World Cup match.