Megan Rapinoe is a Northwest original who is a dominant force on the U.S. National and Olympic Women’s soccer teams. Rapinoe started as a midfielder for her college team, the University of Portland Pilots, and was named West Coast Conference Player of the Year. Even though her 2006 and 2007 seasons were cut short by injury, Rapinoe still held school records for scoring.

After college, Rapinoe played for the Seattle Sounders women in 2011-12 and then in 2013 spent a year in France playing for Olympique Lyonnaise, a prestigious French team with the best record in Euro Women’s soccer. Since 2013 Rapinoe has played professionally for the Seattle Reign FC, alongside Women’s National teammate Hope Solo.

While playing for professional teams, Rapinoe has also been a mainstay of the US Women’s National Team. Megan was a huge part of the US team picking up a Silver medal in the 2011 FIFA Tournament and the crafty center also helped lead the US to Gold in the 2012 London Olympics. Rapinoe was a part of the 2015 FIFA Champion US Women’s National team. Outside the sport, Megan has become a supporter of LGBTQ issues and rights, and has participated in drives for equal pay for female athletes.