Megan Rapinoe and Ali Krieger wrapping up careers facing each other for NWSL title

“With Ali, we’ve been through so much together. We’ve played in the biggest games together, played in world championship games together while the president was tweeting at us, so I feel in this moment we’re just happy to be together,” Rapinoe said. “I think we both wish each other so well. We’re so happy and proud of each other.”

Rapinoe announced before this summer’s Women’s World Cup that she was stepping away from the game after a career that included two World Cup titles, an Olympic gold medal and an Olympic bronze.

Krieger was also on that team, which elicited reaction tweets from former President Donald Trump over whether the United States would visit the White House if it won the title. The Americans won and did not visit the White House.

Both players were also on the U.S. World Cup team that won the title in 2015.

Rapinoe played her final match with the U.S. in September, but the NWSL title match will mark her last appearance for the Reign after 11 seasons with the club. She is one of just five players league-wide who have remained with the same team since the NWSL’s launch.

Krieger, 39, announced before the start of the season that it would be her last.

Krieger’s club career has stretched some 16 years, with stops in Germany and Sweden. She won a Champions League title with Frankfurt. On home soil, she played for the Washington Spirit before a lengthy stint with the Orlando Pride from 2016 to 2021.

At the 2011 World Cup quarterfinals, Krieger scored the game-winning penalty kick after a 2-2 draw against Brazil. The Americans went on to lose on penalties to Japan that year. In all, Krieger made 108 appearances for the United States.

“It’s such a Cinderella ending for Krieger, and Pinoe. They have given so much of themselves to this game,” Gotham forward Lynn Williams said. “I think that both of them are so deserving.”

Krieger said Friday she’s most proud of how she is seeing the results of some of the things she advocated for. She said when the NWSL launched in 2013, she was fighting for socks to wear at training.

“To see where it is now, and to see what we have, and to come here and feel like this final is what we deserve, with all the media attention, the social media going on. I mean, just the level of professionalism has definitely been tremendous,” she said.

The league on Thursday announced a new media rights deal worth $60 million a year. The package will put NWSL matches on CBS Sports, ESPN, Amazon Prime Video and Scripps Sports broadcast and streaming platforms for the next four years.

Attendance at NWSL games also grew 36% across the board this season. The San Diego Wave led the league with an average of 20,718 fans per home match.

Gotham finished 8-7-7 this season and earned the final spot in the playoffs as the No. 6 seed. The team eliminated North Carolina and the Portland Thorns — both on the road — to reach the final.