Megan Rapinoe

Megan Anna Rapinoe was born in Redding, California, and raised in the Shasta County area where she played youth soccer before attending the University of Portland, where she starred for the Pilots and finished her collegiate career with 30 goals and 28 assists in 50 games and earned multiple All‑America and conference honors. Rapinoe's pro career began in Women’s Professional Soccer with the Chicago Red Stars (2009) and included spells with Philadelphia Independence, magicJack, Sydney FC (Australia), and Olympique Lyonnais (France) before she became a long‑time standout at Seattle Reign FC (now OL Reign) in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), helping the Reign to the 2014 NWSL Shield and multiple playoff appearances. Rapinoe made her senior U.S. Women’s National Team debut in 2006 and earned over 200 caps across an 18‑plus year international career, winning Olympic gold in 2012 and FIFA Women's World Cups in 2015 and 2019; at the 2019 World Cup she won both the Golden Boot (top scorer) and Golden Ball (best player). Off the field Rapinoe has been an outspoken advocate for equal pay, LGBTQ rights, and broader social justice causes, using her platform for public speaking, media work, and partnerships; she announced her retirement from professional and international soccer in 2023 after a decorated career and remains active in social-impact work and public engagements.