Before their match against the North Carolina Courage on Sunday, Seattle Reign FC honored American soccer legend Megan Rapinoe by retiring her jersey. Rapinoe, a two-time World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist, was celebrated with a framed No. 15 jersey and received a heartfelt ovation from the 16,598 attendees at Lumen Field, the second-largest crowd for a regular-season game in the team’s history.
Describing the day as “very special,” the 39-year-old Rapinoe expressed her gratitude to the club, fans, and family. During the ceremony, she addressed the crowd, saying, “Every time I see that number, I’ll think of you all.” She recalled the various symbols of social causes she has championed, including Pride flags, trans rights, and gender equality, and shared her personal connections with the fans.
Having retired from soccer at the end of the 2023 NWSL season, Rapinoe is also celebrated for her advocacy on social issues. In 2022, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, becoming the first soccer player to receive the honor. She thanked the fans for their support, emphasizing her commitment to the club as both a player and a future supporter.
A banner with Rapinoe’s face and “You Changed the Game #15” was displayed, while fans created a “R15E” message with pink and black cards. The ceremony was followed by a thrilling finish in the match, as Seattle Reign secured a stoppage-time victory.
Despite a challenging first half and several close attempts, it was teenager Emeri Adames who scored the decisive goal with a header from Veronica Latsko’s cross in the seventh minute of stoppage time. Although the goal was officially recorded as an own goal by Courage’s goalkeeper Casey Murphy, the Seattle players celebrated with Adames, who paid homage to Rapinoe with her iconic celebration.
This victory marked the Reign’s first regular-season win since May 3 and extended their unbeaten streak to five games. Head coach Laura Harvey also reached a milestone as the first NWSL coach to achieve 100 wins, solidifying her status as the league’s all-time winningest coach.