Several years ago, United States Women’s National Team legend Megan Rapinoe made headlines when she claimed that she would probably never sing the national anthem ever again, citing racial and social inequality in the United States. And in her final appearance with the USWNT, she seemed to hold true to that promise.
On Sunday night, Megan Rapinoe made her final appearance with the United States Women’s National Team, serving as the team captain for an international friendly match against South Africa. Before the match, Rapinoe stood for the national anthem along with her teammates and appeared to be emotional as she went through the pregame ceremony for the final time. But according to The Daily Mail, she did not sing along.
“Megan Rapinoe has not been singing the national anthem for years – a practice she started as part of her protest against racial inequality. On Sunday, the last time she took the field for the United States, that didn’t change,” the Daily Mail wrote on Sunday evening.
Back in 2016, Rapinoe famously knelt down during the playing of the national anthem in solidarity with the protests led by NFL superstar Colin Kaepernick, who knelt during the playing of the national anthem before NFL games in protest of racial inequality in the United States.
Rapinoe was the first white athlete to kneel in solidarity.
