In the waning minutes of Friday’s match against the Washington Spirit, OL Reign forward Megan Rapinoe charged upfield, beckoning for the ball from goalkeeper Claudia Dickey. She seemed poised to create late magic in front of a record crowd during the final regular season home match of her NWSL career.
Dickey didn’t pass to Rapinoe, but the veteran forward later stood over the ball for a set piece that amounted to the final play of the game. Rapinoe shipped the ball toward the area, but it never found the back of the net in a scoreless draw at Lumen Field in Seattle. The result keeps both sides’ playoff hopes alive, though neither secured playoff passage in the penultimate regular season game.
“I am a little bit at a loss for words,” Rapinoe said after the game. “I don’t know who to thank other than every single person, but it’s been such an incredible journey.”
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Friday’s contest offered high stakes for two teams jockeying for playoff position. But the moment belonged to Rapinoe, the 38-year-old U.S. national team icon.
Ahead of Friday’s game, OL Reign (8-4-8) opened additional seating at Lumen Field to accommodate demand, resulting in an NWSL record 34,130 spectators. The match, originally scheduled for a 10 p.m. Eastern time kickoff, was moved to prime time to accommodate the moment.
Rapinoe’s farewell tour began in July after she announced she would retire at the end of the season.
She was honored at a Seattle Storm game in August, and in September, she celebrated the end of her U.S. women’s national team career during a friendly against South Africa in Chicago. She left that game to a standing ovation in the 54th minute and was gifted a framed jersey with the No. 203, representing her caps over 17 years.
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Rapinoe received a similar show of appreciation after a September match in Portland, Ore., where she played college soccer. Within the past week, she threw the ceremonial first pitch at a Seattle Mariners game and was honored by the city, whose ferries bore “Forever Rapinoe” flags while local buildings glowed “Pinoe Pink” on Friday night.
At Lumen Field, heads of pink hair adorned the stands, as did posters and a large visual display thanking the retiring star. Rapinoe entered the stadium fittingly donning all black. Before the game, a video tribute featuring tennis great Billie Jean King, former national team star Abby Wambach and second gentleman Douglas Emhoff highlighted the celebration.
When the match kicked off, Rapinoe instigated OL Reign’s attack from the left flank, where she helped her side control the first half. The second half gave way to a more threatening Spirit attack that created opportunities into the final minute, when Dickey saved a pair of Trinity Rodman shots.
The Spirit (7-8-5) could have clinched a playoff spot with a win. Instead, it sits fourth ahead of its regular season finale Oct. 15 against the North Carolina Courage. OL Reign is in the sixth and final postseason position.
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