'A bit poetic' - Rose Lavelle thrilled as retiring USWNT legends Megan Rapinoe and Ali Krieger set up NWSL showdown

Two greats of the American game are preparing to bring their respective careers to a close, with one more game left to take in before the most illustrious of boots are hung up for good. There will be major silverware on the line in that contest, with OL Reign having set up a NWSL championship clash with Gotham FC in 2023.

Neither Rapinoe nor Krieger, for all that they have achieved in that game, have ever savoured NWSL glory – giving them added incentive to bow out in style. Both have enjoyed considerable success at international level, earning over 300 caps between them while becoming two-time World Cup winners, but domestic honours are now dominating their thoughts.

Current USWNT star Lavelle, who is a club colleague of Rapinoe with the Reign, is among those intrigued to see how an epic battle for last-game supremacy plays out. She has said: “It seems a bit poetic that the championship game is ending with Krieger and Pinoe’s last game. I think it’s really special to be able to get (Rapinoe) there. But not just her, I think like Jess (Fishlock), Lu (Barnes), Laura (Harvey). I think they’ve been the backbone of this club and have made this club into what it is, so I think it’s really special to finally get to this moment and be able to be on this stage.”

Rapinoe is now 38 years of age, while Krieger is 39. The 2023 NWSL final will take place at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego on Saturday, with there set to be plenty of emotion on show regardless of the end result in California.