Megan Rapinoe made history Friday night – yet again.
In the final home regular season game of Rapinoe’s career, the OL Reign set an NWSL attendance record of 34,130.
Lumen Field then watched the Reign play the Washington Spirit to a 0-0 draw, but the result hardly dampened the festive atmosphere: Fans wielded “Thank you Megan” signs and dressed up like their hero in pink wigs.
For Reign coach Laura Harvey, the attendance record was something to be proud of, but also a goal for the future.
“We have to do that every week,” Harvey told the media. “We need to have extra resources to be able to do that and meet the exposure that the sport’s having….we need to have the capability to market ourselves at that level.”
The city of Seattle had made plans to embrace Rapinoe on the day of her final game. “Forever Rapinoe” flags flew on Seattle’s ferries and at Lumen Field, and buildings across downtown Seattle lit up in “Pinoe Pink” in the evening.
The Reign (8-5-8, 29 points), in sixth place in the league standings, wrap up the regular season Oct. 15 on the road against the Chicago Red stars. The club can extend Rapinoe’s career with a berth in the postseason, but that is hardly guaranteed as the season heads into its final chapter.
“Thank you to everyone,” Rapinoe said while addressing the crowd after the game. “I really appreciate it. And I hope to see all of you. At all of the home games next year.”