Megan Rapinoe explains how retirement announcement will help USWNT at World Cup

United States Women's National Team (USWNT) forward Megan Rapinoe believes that the timing of her recent retirement announcement will benefit the team as the U.S. tries to win another World Cup.

Rapinoe said last week that she plans to retire following the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) season, meaning that this summer's World Cup will be her final appearance on the USWNT.

The 2023 NWSL regular season ends on Oct. 15 and the league championship is scheduled for Nov. 11. Rapinoe has spent her entire career with the OL Reign since the league was founded in 2013.
The 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup runs from July 20-Aug. 20. The USWNT are the two-time defending champions (Rapinoe has been a member of the team since 2011) and have won a record four titles.

"Obviously I'm 38 years old, I'm not going to be playing forever and it just always feels weird for me to have something settled and feel at peace and to not answer a question honestly," Rapinoe said, per an Associated Press, ESPN and Reuters report. "I kind of wanted to have that for myself."

While Rapinoe said the decision allows herself to "focus a lot more," it should also help the rest of the squad.

"We don't have to get questions every time, every single game. It's just kind of out there and I can just really enjoy it and focus on trying to win the tournament," she said.

The Americans play their first World Cup game this summer against Vietnam on July 21 at Eden Park. The U.S. then takes on the Netherlands on July 26 and Portugal on Aug. 1.