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Megan Rapinoe’s career ends with injury three minutes into NWSL Championship, Gotham claims title

By David Moore November 11, 2023
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A devastating end for Rapinoe.
Getty Images

Women’s soccer icon Megan Rapinoe had her career end less than three minutes into the NWSL Championship on Saturday as she suffered a non-contact injury. The Rapinoe injury cast a shadow over Gotham FC’s 2-1 victory vs. OL Reign.

In a match that was highly advertised as Megan Rapinoe vs. Ali Krieger in both of their final games, Rapinoe’s unfortunate injury took all the headlines.

Rapinoe, 38, and Krieger, 39, entered Saturday’s NWSL Championship knowing it was their final professional game. What no one knew was that Rapinoe’s night would be over in the third minute.

Some have speculated that Rapinoe suffered a calf or Achilles injury, but here was the moment she went down and was substituted out of the game. Krieger and Rapinoe exchanged a hug before the OL Reign forward left the field.

Megan Rapinoe injury in NWSL Championship

Rapinoe has been one of if not the biggest figures for the growth of women’s soccer in the United States. She’s spent a decade with OL Reign and many more with the USWNT. Her voice has been one of the loudest in activism for equal pay, LGBTQ+ and civil rights.

She’d never won an NWSL Championship before and came agonizingly close before the injury ruled her out. Despite the injury she became OL Reign’s biggest supporter on the sideline.

Gotham FC and Krieger deserve plenty of credit for their victory. Lynn Williams opened the scoring with a close-range effort after a beautiful run from Midge Purce. Saucy stuff from Purce.

USWNT star Rose Lavelle leveled the game for OL Reign in the 29th minute with a composed finish.

Gotham retook the lead on the stroke of halftime. Purce played provider again, however this time from a corner kick as Esther González found the back of the net with a perfect header.

OL Reign had their chances to find the equalizer in the second half. Perhaps the best chance came when Lavelle found a clinical through ball to Veronica Latsko in the 60th minute, however Gotham keeper Mandy Haught came up with a big save.

The NWSL Championship had a climactic end when Haught was sent off after handling the ball outside the box in the final minutes. Midfielder Nealy Martin had to step in as goalkeeper for the final free kick, but Lavelle couldn’t get her shot past the wall.

Gotham survived the late scare, won their first-ever NWSL Championship and sent Krieger off with a bang.

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