Megan Rapinoe, an American association football player born in Redding in 1985, distinguished herself as a midfielder and winger across a professional career spanning multiple leagues. She gained recognition for her technical precision on the pitch, becoming the first player to score a goal directly from a corner kick at the Olympic Games, a feat she performed twice.
University and Early Development
Rapinoe attended the University of Portland, playing for the Pilots on a full scholarship. During her 2005 freshman season, she helped the team secure the NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship, contributing one goal and one assist in a 4-0 final victory against UCLA. She concluded her college career with 30 goals and 28 assists over 60 games, ranking tenth in school history. She overcame two season-ending ACL injuries in 2006 and 2007 to return for the 2008 season, where she was named West Coast Conference Player of the Year.
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In 2009, Rapinoe was selected second overall in the inaugural Women's Professional Soccer draft by the Chicago Red Stars. Over her career, she played for various clubs including Philadelphia Independence and magicJack within the WPS structure. Internationally, she represented Lyon Women in France's Division 1 Féminine. In the United States, she spent the majority of her professional tenure with Seattle Reign FC.
International Performance and Recognition
Representing the United States national team, Rapinoe co-captained the squad alongside Carli Lloyd and Alex Morgan from 2018 to 2020. Her 2012 Olympic performance included three goals and four assists, securing a gold medal. In 2019, she received numerous individual accolades, including The Best FIFA Women's Player, the Ballon d'Or Féminin, and the Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year. She was also named to the Time 100 list in 2022 and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Joe Biden that same year.
Fast facts
- Born: 1985, Redding, United States
- Education: University of Portland
- Primary Position: Midfielder and winger
- 2012 Olympic achievement: Gold medal
- 2019 Awards: Ballon d'Or Féminin, The Best FIFA Women's Player
- 2022 Award: Presidential Medal of Freedom
Questions readers ask
Which universities did Megan Rapinoe attend?
She attended the University of Portland.
Did Megan Rapinoe win any individual awards in 2019?
Yes, she was named The Best FIFA Women's Player and won the Ballon d'Or Féminin.
Achievements
- Presidential Medal of Freedom
- Ballon d'Or Féminin
- Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year
- Competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics
- Competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics
- Competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics
- 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup
