Rapinoe OK with 'rewarding' sub role for USWNT at World Cup - ESPN

AUCKLAND, New Zealand — United States veteran Megan Rapinoe said her role as a super-sub at the Women's World Cup has been «rewarding» but that she «could have helped» in a substitute role against the Netherlands.

Rapinoe played a starring role in helping the USWNT to win the 2019 Women's World Cup. She was the Golden Boot and Golden Ball winner at the 2019 tournament in France, but she has been limited to 27 minutes over the first two games in 2023, and was an unused sub in the 1-1 draw against the Netherlands — a result that leaves the U.S. needing at least a draw against Portugal on Tuesday to guarantee passage to the knockout stages.

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«I think I could have helped,» Rapinoe told reporters about the Netherlands match. «But I think Lynn [Williams] could have helped, and I think Trinity [Rodman] was helping and I think [Sophia Smith] was helping, and we had chances. It was right there for us. I don't think that it was like all the players on the field didn't do their job. I think that they were giving everything and still creating chances up 'till the very end and just wasn't able to get that last goal.»

While Rapinoe always wants to be on the field, she realizes she can still make an important contribution to the team as it chases its third consecutive Women's World Cup title.

«You can still play at an extremely high level. You can still keep a really high standard. You still have a lot to offer, both on the field and off the field,» she added.

«Maybe you're not going to be a starter playing 90 minutes or playing the bulk of the games. But you know, sometimes the veteran players, that's not what you need. You need the 20 minutes in two games that wins the team the