Megan Rapinoe Named Sports Illustrated's Sportsperson of the Year

Megan Rapinoe was just named Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year, a well-earned title that should surprise absolutely no one after the successful year the soccer star had.

But it isn’t just the World Cup win that earned Rapinoe the coveted honor from SI. While she did score one of the two goals that won the United States the cup this year, she’s also repeatedly proven herself to be a fearless role model for young kids and someone who stands tall for what she believes in.

As SI states, Rapinoe led the charge for the US women’s soccer team to sue for equal pay with the far less victorious men’s team, and to vow not to visit “the fucking White House” if and when they won the World Cup.

“Rapinoe challenged perceptions of her, of female athletes, of all women,” the profile reads.

And she is only the fourth woman to be considered Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year, a title once held by fellow lesbian sports icon Billie Jean King.

The SI cover comes only a week after Rapinoe won a Ballon d’Or award naming her the top women’s soccer player of 2019. In typical Rapinoe fashion, she used the moment to challenge famous male soccer players to stand with her against racism and sexism, a call which has so far gone unheeded.

“On the one hand, I am a good player,” she said. “On the other, my activity away from the pitch brings me support as people understand I am acting to find solutions to our society’s problems. The idea is to empower others to speak louder.”

And that seems to be the theme running through her Sports Illustrated profile, as well — now that she’s found this success and fame through her sporting accomplishments, how can she use that to make the world a better place?

You can read the full profile on Rapinoe here.