Portrait · Jamie Smed; existing crop by David Levy / CC BY 2.0

Megan Rapinoe

Former soccer player, author and presenter

Born 1985

Megan Rapinoe is an American former soccer player, author and presenter whose public career extends from championship football to advocacy and documentary work. Raised in Redding, California, with twin sister Rachael in a large family, she described her childhood self as both quiet and sensitive and mischievous and energetic. In her original memoir interview, she spoke about finding a sense of identity through sport while recognising that heavily organised youth competition could take away some of its freedom. Her personal story includes learning to speak openly about being gay and using the visibility that came with playing for the United States. In her November 2020 conversation with Robin Roberts, she recalled first picking up a soccer ball at four. She connected her public advocacy with a family upbringing that valued how she lived over winning. That interview also places her memoir alongside the team’s equal-pay campaign. Her collaborative essay Tomboys describes parents Denise and Jim as supportive without treating sport as a campaign of pressure. The piece places friendship alongside competition: teammates and other athletes helped provide a setting in which sporting ambition and personal identity could coexist. That account adds a family and social dimension to a career often introduced through trophies. Portland’s 2005 NCAA championship was an early milestone. College injuries interrupted her development before a senior international and professional career, including Lyon and a decade with Seattle. The United States won two World Cups and Olympic gold during her career; her 2019 tournament also brought the Golden Ball and Golden Boot. Her earlier club route included Chicago, Philadelphia and magicJack, a guest spell in Sydney and a season with Sounders Women. These moves show a professional path spanning different leagues before the long Seattle association. Chicago had selected her second overall in its 2009 draft. A cross for Abby Wambach against Brazil in 2011 became one of the defining early images of her international career. Sporting prominence later gave her a platform in the campaign for equal pay and broader advocacy. The Presidential Medal of Freedom recognised that public impact in 2022. Her sporting reputation and willingness to speak beyond the field developed together, with leadership becoming part of the story as well as results. Her final USA appearance came against South Africa in Chicago in September 2023. The completed national-team record stands at 203 appearances, 63 goals and 73 assists. Seattle Reign retired her number 15 jersey in 2024, preserving a club honour after her playing career ended. Work beyond football includes re-inc, the apparel company she launched with Tobin Heath, Christen Press and Meghan Klingenberg in 2019. The founders brought their perspective as athletes into a gender-neutral venture. One Life, written with Emma Brockes, appeared in 2020 and brought the personal and public strands of her story into a memoir. She also cofounded A Touch More with Sue Bird, giving their public conversations a production-company setting. Their April 2026 separation announcement also introduced the winding down of their joint podcast. Her September 2026 Toronto conversation about Rapinoe reflects another transition. Director Rebeca Huntt and Rapinoe discussed making room for family and personal history beyond the familiar sporting figure. Rapinoe described choosing someone she could trust with that wider portrait. The documentary is a current project in a career increasingly concerned with how her story is told. Screen work includes voice acting and an executive-producer credit on The Soccer Football Movie.

Verified identityCore facts checked against named sources.

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Connected people

ConnectionRachael RapinoeTwin sister and original-essay collaborator.

ConnectionAbby WambachHer 2011 World Cup equaliser followed Rapinoe’s cross.

ConnectionTobin Heathre-inc cofounder.

Megan Rapinoe in SanJose,May10,2015 — Profile image · Noah Salzman / CC BY-SA 4.0

NewProject11 Sept 2026

A documentary portrait at Toronto

Rapinoe and director Rebeca Huntt discuss a film reaching beyond her sporting identity and the trust involved in filming her family.

Latest Index

2026

NewsChecked against a primary source or trusted newsroom.

ScopeOnly attributable updates about Megan Rapinoe's work and public record.

News
A separation and podcast transition
Rapinoe and Bird announce their separation and the ending of their joint podcast.
17 Apr 2026Source checked
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News
Her final international in Chicago
The USA defeats South Africa at Soldier Field on Rapinoe’s 203rd and final national-team appearance.
24 Sept 2023Official source
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News
Retirement planned for the season’s end
U.S. Soccer reports her decision to finish playing after the 2023 NWSL season.
8 Jul 2023Official source
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News
A dated beauty conversation
Her January interview documents skincare in the context of her Shiseido ambassadorship.
21 Jan 2022Source checked
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Project
Reading through Call In
An August 2021 Literati interview shares reading recommendations.
20 Aug 2021Source checked
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Project
One Life and the childhood behind it
In an original memoir interview, Rapinoe discusses her Redding upbringing and finding a public voice.
11 Nov 2020Source checked
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Project
Four teammates build re-inc
Rapinoe joins Heath, Press and Klingenberg in a gender-neutral apparel venture launched in 2019.
10 Nov 2019Source checked
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News
An essay about sport and friendship
Rapinoe and collaborators describe the support surrounding their sporting and personal identities.
4 Jul 2016Source checked
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Selected Credits

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Year	Title	Role
2022	The Soccer Football MovieFilmIMDb	Megan Rapinoe — voice
2023	Under Pressure: The U.S. Women’s World Cup TeamDocumentary seriesIMDb	Self
2023	FIFA Women’s World CupSport	USA — final World Cup
2025	Phineas and Ferb — Bend It Like Doof/DooflicatedTelevision episodeIMDb	Megan Rapinoe — voice
2026	RapinoeDocumentary filmIMDb	Self — documentary subject

Timeline

1985—2026

1985Born in Redding, California.
YouthGrew up with twin sister Rachael.
2005NCAA champion with Portland.
2006Made her senior USA debut against Ireland.
2009Chicago selected her second overall.
2011Played for Philadelphia and magicJack.
2011Provided the World Cup cross for Abby Wambach’s equaliser against Brazil.
2011Joined Sydney as a guest player.
2012Played for Sounders Women.
2012Olympic gold with the USA.
2013Joined Lyon; Seattle club career also began.
2014NWSL Shield with Seattle.
2015World Cup champion with the USA.
2015Another Seattle NWSL Shield.
20162016-07-04: Tomboys essay published.
2018NWSL Best XI honour.
2018Appeared in Alone in the Game.
2019re-inc launched with four cofounders.
2020One Life published with Emma Brockes.
2020Co-hosted the ESPYS.
2020Engagement to Sue Bird announced; later superseded.
2021Olympic bronze with the USA.
2021Call In interview published August 20.
2022Presidential Medal of Freedom.
2022OL Reign won the NWSL Shield.
2022Voice actor and executive producer of The Soccer Football Movie.
20232023-07-08: End-of-season retirement announced.
20232023-09-24: Final international, against South Africa.
2024Seattle Reign retired her number 15 jersey.
20252025-10-18: Voiced herself in Phineas and Ferb.
20262026-04-17: Separation and joint-podcast transition announced.
20262026-09-11: Discussed Rapinoe at Toronto.

A documentary portrait at Toronto

Latest Index

A separation and podcast transition

Her final international in Chicago

Retirement planned for the season’s end

A dated beauty conversation

Reading through Call In

One Life and the childhood behind it

Four teammates build re-inc

An essay about sport and friendship