Megan Rapinoe officially retired from professional soccer after her appearance in the NWSL Championship match on Nov. 11. Upon Rapinoe’s retirement, Alex Morgan shared her parting words for the American soccer icon.
Rapinoe and Morgan have been fixtures of the U.S. women’s national team together since 2010, when Morgan made her debut for the side. Thirteen years and two World Cup victories later, and the partnership is finally separating — at least on the pitch.
Two days after Rapinoe’s final match, Morgan shared the emotional farewell speech she gave in tribute to her longtime teammate.
Congratulations @mPinoe, your work here is done 🥂 pic.twitter.com/BFbhDIIQuW
— Alex Morgan (@alexmorgan13) November 12, 2023
“P, you clearly mean so much to me and all of us,” Morgan said. “This team is in good hands, but it is in good hands, in large part, because of you and what you’ve done for this team.”
Rapinoe and Morgan are two key figures in a revolution for women’s soccer in the United States. Along with having historic soccer careers and great success on the field, both players advocated for equal pay for the U.S. women’s national team. Rapinoe, Morgan and the USWNT won their battle with U.S. Soccer in 2022 and earned a new contract for their team along with $22 million in backpay from the league.
And Rapinoe has no plans to disappear from the world of soccer. Rapinoe and her fiancée Sue Bird began a production company together to which Rapinoe plans to dedicate more time. Rapinoe also mentioned a desire to continue to work in the OL Reign organization during the postgame press conference after the team’s 2-1 loss to Gotham FC in the NWSL Championship.
Rapinoe changed the landscape of women’s soccer in the U.S. with Morgan and other members of the national team by her side, and it doesn’t seem like she has plans of stopping in retirement.
“Congratulations on the next chapter in life,” Morgan said. “And I hope you just ride off into the sunset because your work here is done.”