Megan Rapinoe was named NWSL player of the week for the fifth time. (Andy Mead/YCJ Photo)
CHICAGO – Seattle Reign FC forward Megan Rapinoe was voted the National Women’s Soccer League player of the week by the NWSL Media Association for Week 1 of the season.
Rapinoe, 32, registered a goal and an assist to help the Reign earn a 2-1 win in its season opener Saturday against Washington Spirit. Seattle is 3-1-2 all-time in season openers and 3-2-1 in home openers.
The Redding, Calif. native opened the scoring in the seventh minute hitting a 25-yard free kick that curved up and over the wall before slipping past goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe for a 1-0 advantage. (Watch highlights).
As Seattle continued to pressure the Spirit, the University of Portland product slipped in a through ball for Jodie Taylor to run onto as she slotted it past the goalkeeper to score in 35th minute in her Reign debut.
Rapinoe finished the match with 11 shots (six on target) and two chances created on 85 touches.
It is the fifth time Rapinoe has been honored as the NWSL player of the week and the 20th time a member of the Reign has won the award.
Seattle will return to action in three weeks – following a bye week and international break – on Sunday, April 15 at 5 p.m. ET against Sky Blue FC at Yurcak Field in Piscataway, N.J.
The NWSL player of the week is selected each week of the regular season by the NWSL Media Association, a collection of writers that cover the league on a consistent basis. For more information on the NWSL Media Association, follow them on Twitter.
