Megan Rapinoe, Seattle soccer legend, elected to National Soccer Hall of Fame

Kate Shefte, The Seattle Times on Nov 12, 2026

Published in Soccer

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SEATTLE — After a nine-hour flight from Tokyo, Megan Rapinoe got through Global Entry at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Thursday morning. Grogginess gave way to “shock and confusion.”

A crowd was waiting on the other side of international arrivals, including her parents and twin sister. They came bearing news and rare gifts: In her first year of eligibility, Rapinoe, 41, was elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame Class of 2027, another high honor following a decorated career. They presented her with a ceremonial coin and scarf, the official commemorative gifts for new inductees.

“Like, right now?” she exclaimed.

There was some accidental prep for the cameras. Rapinoe put on a face mask during the flight, and woke up shortly before landing.

Still, even after she saw her family, it took a minute to connect the dots.

“It’s so special to have them here,” Rapinoe said. “They’ve been on this journey of a career the whole time, never missed a big moment. So it feels very fitting that they’d be here to tell me.”

In honor of her distinctive pink, short haircut, members of the Seattle Reign Academy donned bright pink wigs and carried two-sided poster board signs — one that wouldn’t give the game away as Rapinoe walked up, one that celebrated the achievement.

One of the wig-wearers, 16-year-old Ryenn Lyman, grew up in Hawaiʻi, not Seattle. But Rapinoe was still “this huge character in our lives.” She attended Rapinoe’s final Reign game at Lumen Field and loved it, even though it was sad.

“It was just really inspiring when we were younger, and even now, it is,” Lyman said. “I miss watching her.”

Rapinoe retired from professional soccer at the end of the 2023 NWSL season at age 38. Players must be retired for at least three years to qualify for NSHOF inclusion.

She blew away the other requirements, one of which is at least 20 full international games for the U.S. Rapinoe made 203 appearances for the U.S. women’s national team from 2006-23 and won two of the four FIFA Women’s World Cups in which she appeared.

Hopefuls should have played at least five seasons in an American first-division professional league such as the NWSL, and won either the league championship or the U.S. Open Cup, or been a league All-Star at least once. Rapinoe joined the Reign during their inaugural season in 2013 and spent 10 seasons with that team. The Reign won the NWSL Shield with the best regular-season record in 2014, 2015, and 2022, and Rapinoe has numerous individual accolades.

Rapinoe was named the FIFA Women’s Player of the Year in 2019. She scored 63 goals in international play, including nine in World Cup play. She also won gold at the 2012 Olympic Games.

She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, in 2022.

A private ceremony will take place at the Hall of Fame at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, on April 16.

“I’m really proud. It’s really special,” Rapinoe said. “It’s really special to have the Reign here, and my family, and it just feels very Seattle, and very ‘my career.’

“It’s very specific and very special to receive this.”

Rapinoe’s World Cup teammates Ali Krieger and Julie Johnston Ertz also just became eligible for election, and Ertz will join Rapinoe in the Class of 2027. They were all notable contributors to one of the most successful periods in U.S. women’s soccer history.

“I feel like every year, my generation of players is up for it and getting inducted,” Rapinoe said. “So it’s very special. Of course, first ballot is sort of the cherry on top.”

Of the 220 eligible candidates named for 2027, 61 were on the Player Eligibility List, 127 were on the Veteran Eligibility List — they’ve usually been retired longer — and 32 were on the Builder Eligibility List, for those who have left their mark on U.S. soccer in non-playing capacity.

As many as three players and two veterans can be selected, along with one Builder. Tobin Heath, Heather O’Reilly, Chris Wondolowski, Kevin Crow, Tony Sanneh, and Kari Seitz made up the Class of 2026.

The rest of the Class of 2027 was gradually rolled out on Thursday. Men’s national team mainstay Jozy Altidore is another one of the players. David Beckham and indoor soccer legend Tatu were elected off the veteran ballot.

The Reign Academy players were informed of Rapinoe’s inclusion but sworn to secrecy. While they waited for her grand, if disoriented, entrance, they made sure the reveal was as perfect as possible.

“We were trying on the wigs, and trying to figure out which was the front and which was the back,” Lyman recalled. “It was so fun.”