- The US Women's National Team lost to Sweden in penalty kicks at the 2023 World Cup.
- Megan Rapinoe missed her shot and was criticized for appearing to laugh afterwards.
The US Women's National Team bowed out of the 2023 World Cup in heartbreaking fashion but some people are taking issue with the way one veteran player acted in the moments following the loss.
After a scoreless draw through regulation and 30 minutes of extra time Sunday, the US battled rival Sweden in penalty kicks for a chance to advance to the quarter-finals Down Under. The Stars and Stripes jumped out to an early lead, but three straight misses sank their dreams of hoisting an unprecedented third-consecutive World Cup.
Megan Rapinoe — the 38-year-old forward who played the hero for the US at the 2019 World Cup — was among the American players who failed to convert from the penalty spot.
Immediately following Sweden's first miss of penalties, Rapinoe stepped up with a chance to put her foes on the brink of elimination. But it was clear from the moment she struck the ball that she'd put too much on it; her shot sailed over the crossbar and into the crowd at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.
Rapinoe misses the fourth!
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) August 6, 2023
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Rapinoe hung her head and smiled as she turned away from the goal and walked back to rejoin her teammates at midfield. And after Sweden prevailed, she appeared to be laughing as she spoke with teammate Lynn Williams out on the pitch.
Megan Rapinoe is full of emotion after the final whistle pic.twitter.com/aUdercNr2y
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) August 6, 2023
On the back of comments from former star Carli Lloyd criticizing the USWNT's "passion," many saw Rapinoe's response as a sign that she didn't care about the outcome of the match — the final at a major international tournament in her illustrious career. But in her postgame comments, she clarified that her reaction was one of disbelief.
"I mean, this is like a sick joke for me personally," Rapinoe said, holding back tears as she spoke. "I'm just like, this is dark comedy that I missed a penalty."
Rapinoe is considered one of the best penalty shooters in the game. In fact, before Sunday's miss, Rapinoe had converted every single penalty kick she took — for club or for country — since 2018, according to ESPN.
So naturally, as she stepped up for her turn, she assumed "I'm gonna score. Back of the net. Always."
To break a five-year streak in such a pivotal moment — with more than 4 million people watching — was literally unbelievable for Rapinoe.
"That's why I had that smile on my face," Rapinoe told ESPN. "Like, 'You got to be fucking kidding me. I'm going to miss the penalty?'"
Rapinoe will finish out the 2023 National Women's Soccer League season with OL Reign before hanging up her boots for good. She'll retire with two World Cup victories, an Olympic gold medal, and a Ballon d'Or to her name — plus a Presidential Medal of Freedom for her efforts off the field.