This week, United States Women’s National Team legend Megan Rapinoe officially ended her playing career with the USWNT, making her final appearance with the team in a friendly against South Africa on Sunday night. And now that she’s officially retired, the USWNT will go about trying to replace her.
Replacing one of the most accomplished players in team history will be no easy task, but young USWNT star Midge Purce is confident that somebody will step into the role, because Megan Rapinoe helped inspire the next generation of USWNT stars.
“It’s really funny because [Rapinoe] always talks about how everything she does, it’s not to inspire, it’s to help. But what she’s done is she’s inspired generations behind us, and I just know that someone’s going to step up and fill that role,” Purce said according ot ESPN. “Nobody thought Megan Rapinoe was going to be Megan Rapinoe, but what she’s done is made it easier for the next Megan Rapinoe to shine.”
It’s clear that Rapinoe has earned a lot of respect from the younger players on the United States Women’s National Team. It will be interesting to see who steps up and fills her void after her absence.
