The final match of the storied career of women’s soccer legend Megan Rapinoe did not go the way she expected on Saturday night. In fact, it went about as terribly as it possibly could have for the superstar.
During just the sixth minute of Saturday night’s matchup between her OL Reign and NJ/NY Gotham in the NWSL championship, Megan Rapinoe suffered an injury that she fears is a ruptured Achilles tendon, causing her to be unceremoniously substituted out of the game as a result.
After the game, Rapinoe described the injury as “devastating” and “the worst possible outcome” for what was supposed to be a celebratory occasion.
“It felt like just a huge pop,” Rapinoe said after the game according to ESPN. “The worst possible outcome. I just thank god I have like a [freaking] deep well of sense of humor. But yeah, I mean, just obviously devastating to go out in the final so early.”
It’s obviously horrible news for a player who has meant so much to women’s soccer over the years, and it led to a lot of reactions on social media.
Non contact injuries are just horrific… https://t.co/0ElCT80qEc
— Kat 🖤💛 (@Kat_A_Tonic) November 12, 2023
A non-contact injury taking out a world renowned player in the Championship game that would be their last game.
I expect that Casey Stoney has been talking up and down about how notoriously poor the field conditions were. https://t.co/J5Z1dq5ayX
— Anthony Leanhart (@Leanhart) November 12, 2023
Rapinoe, Wambach, O'Hara, Krieger et al helped me fall in love with this game.
Absolute legend of a player 🫡. https://t.co/QJ5fSWHM40
— A Guy Who Be Places (@autto421) November 12, 2023
people cheering??? being happy??? that a legend of the game, not just the women’s game, went down with an injury in her last career game are sick.
thank you Pinoe, for everything you did for the game. https://t.co/2OoIrQ4vBI
— Kensey Arlt (@kenzarlt) November 12, 2023
Sport, like life, is so capricious.
What a major bummer for this game and Rapinoe. https://t.co/TR9QtOXd87— Kara Newhouse (@KaraNewhouse) November 12, 2023
This is heartbreaking for Pinoe 🙁 https://t.co/2iqyfqdMvB
— Jordana Butler (@jordanab32) November 12, 2023
brb, crying https://t.co/AQOc3cdEd1
— Alejandra Martin (@AMartin23) November 12, 2023
It’s not the way she wanted her final professional game to end, but it’s safe to say that she left a lasting impact.
[ESPN]
