In a post-match press conference, Rapinoe, known for her candidness, addressed the injury with a mix of humor and frustration. She mentioned her plans to seek the “Aaron Rodgers treatment” for her recovery and humorously added that she would reach out to the football star or whoever performed his surgery.
Despite her typical upbeat demeanor, Rapinoe expressed her disbelief and frustration about the injury, stating, “I’m not a religious person or anything, and if there was a god, like, this is proof that there isn’t. This is f—ed up. It’s just f—ed up. Six minutes in, and I eat my Achilles.”
The injury occurred when Rapinoe attempted a defensive play, resulting in a non-contact injury. The emotional scene saw Rapinoe receiving medical attention before leaving the game, marking the end of her remarkable career. Before exiting the field, Rapinoe shared a poignant hug with former USWNT teammate Ali Krieger, who plays for Gotham FC and was also participating in her final professional match.
Reflecting on the injury, Rapinoe described the moment, stating, “Everyone is always like, ‘Who kicked me?’ And obviously, no one was even around me, and I was pressing. That’s what it felt like. Just a huge pop, and I can’t even feel where the Achilles is, but pretty sure I tore my Achilles. The worst possible outcome.”
Expressing her resilient spirit, Rapinoe added, “Thank God I have a f—ing deep well of a sense of humor. It’s devastating to go out in a final so early.” Despite the unfortunate conclusion, Rapinoe concluded her career with OL Reign, contributing four goals and five assists in 15 matches during the 2023 season. The Reign remained the only team Rapinoe played for in the NWSL, marking the end of an era for the soccer star.
