NWSL
Rapinoe looking to sign off with NWSL winner’s medal
Following a surprise semi-final win over San Diego Wave, Megan Rapinoe’s OL Reign have sights set on NWSL glory on Saturday.
Last weekend’s NWSL Championship semi-final games both delivered surprises with highly fancied Portland Thorns and San Diego Wave eliminated at the hands of Gotham FC and OL Reign respectively. Saturday’s final in San Diego offers the side from Seattle the chance of making up for last year’s final loss to Portland with the game also presenting the chance of a first championship for the side from the East Coast.
The game will also be the final time Megan Rapinoe takes to the field as a professional player. The 2019 Ballon d’Or winner called time on her USWNT and club career and played for the national team for the last time in September. Her time on the pitch at club level has been extended given the Reign’s path to the NWSL final.
A game of farewells
The Snapdragon Stadium game will also be the last time that Rapinoe’s former national team mate and Gotham defender Ali Krieger plays with the 39-year-old also confirming retirement come the end of the season.
Sunday’s game will also be an interesting match with mixed emotions for Rapinoe’s partner WNBA legend Sue Bird who is a shareholder in NJ/NY Gotham FC with Bird joking that she needs a half and half jersey to wear at Saturday’s final.
The Seattle-based team and Gotham both overcame tough odds to reach the title match this year, with the sixth-seeded New York/New Jersey side beating the 2022 champions Portland Thorns in their respective semi-final.
“The fairytale is Pinoe and Kriegs, it’s a great story,” OL Reign coach Laura Harvey told reporters. “You don’t write a better script than that.”
OL Reign will play Gotham FC in the NWSL Championship final on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego.