Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan and the USWNT stars who have played their last World Cup

There's no speculation about this one: Megan Rapinoe's career is coming to an end. She announced prior to the World Cup that she'll retire after the NWSL season, with the 38-year-old icon now staring down the end of his career. Her time on the biggest stage ended cruelly, as her penalty sailed over the crossbar and helped condemn the USWNT to a historic defeat.

What's next for Rapinoe is anyone's guess. She's a personality that is much larger than soccer, so it'll be no surprise to see her pop up just about anywhere else in the world. Whether it's Hollywood, business or politics, Rapinoe can do just about anything she wants as she puts her playing days behind her.

Like Rapinoe, it's cruel that Kelley O'Hara's decorated World Cup career ended in this way. She went to four World Cups and won two of them, cementing her place in USWNT history. The lasting image of her 2023 World Cup should be the leadership she showed after the Portugal draw, embracing a clearly frustrated Rose Lavelle after the midfielder earned herself a suspension.

Unfortunately, the missed penalty against Sweden will probably be the real lasting image as she was one of three USWNT stars to fail to convert from the spot. As for her future now, it remains to be seen if she can stick around for the Olympics at age 35 but, with a new coach likely coming in soon to refresh the player pool, it's safe to say the USWNT should go younger.

You never say never in this sport, but it seems that Julie Ertz's USWNT career is officially over. "I think for me it’s just emotional because it’s probably my last game ever being able to have the honor to wear this crest," Ertz said after the match. "So I think it’s just, you know, it’s just tough. I feel like it’s just an emotional time. So it absolutely sucks and penalties are the worst. But it’s an honor to represent this team and I’m excited for the future of the girls.”

At age 31, maybe Ertz shouldn't be written off, and the USWNT might just be hoping her retirement statement was made out of emotion. From what we saw this summer, she could still help this team at the Olympics next summer, although the next World Cup will probably be too far away for her.

Kristie Mewis has an absolutely insane World Cup record to her name. The midfielder scored for the USWNT in the shootout defeat to Sweden, and that penalty-kick goal was her only ever touch on the world's biggest stage. She hadn't played up until that point and was brought in for the shootout. She converted and that was it; her World Cup was over.

The 32-year-old midfielder may not have been on the roster if the USWNT was 100 percent healthy, and given the upcoming youth movement, this'll likely be her only World Cup, having previously been a part of the bronze medal Olympic team in 2021.

This one is not a certainty by any stretch. Alex Morgan remains one of the most productive forwards in the world, despite her lack of success in Australia and New Zealand. But the fact is that she'll be 38 by the time the next World Cup rolls around and, with a new coach coming in, it seems that it may be a matter of time before the USWNT transitions to a new star striker.

Will she remain part of the pool for the foreseeable future? For sure. There's a pretty good chance she'll play a key role at next summer's Olympics and will remain a vital source of leadership. Four years is a long time, though, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see someone like Sophia Smith take that striker role very, very soon.

She's been a heck of a servant to this team for some time, but Alyssa Naeher will be 39 by the time the next World Cup rolls around. Goalkeepers last longer than outfield players, for sure, but the USWNT will likely transition to a new 'keeper between now and the 2027 tournament.

Her successor may already be in the squad, with 27-year-old Casey Murphy seeming like a good candidate to take that role. When that happens, though, will be up to the next coach, but it makes sense to give Murphy her chance sooner rather than later.

She's right on the line at age 31, but Crystal Dunn will face a fight to keep her place. Her position has been up for debate for years, and there is a chance that the new coach finally lets her flourish in midfield as she does at the club level. That's a decision whoever comes in will have to make, and there's no doubt Dunn has the ability to make that decision tough.

Even so, the U.S. should be ushering new blood in defense and in the midfield, which could make opportunities a bit harder to come by.

Unfortunately, there are several USWNT stars that missed this tournament through injury, robbing them of the chance to play at what will likely be their final World Cup. Becky Sauerbrunn is one, for sure, as the USWNT's primary captain was cruelly injured at the worst possible time. Tobin Heath and Christen Press, meanwhile, are 35 and 34, respectively, are likely done playing at this level too.

Sam Mewis, meanwhile, is right on the line. At age 30, she could very well play a part going forward, although that will really depend on how and when she returns from an injury that has kept her out of action for two years.

Overall, anyone over the age of 30 has certainly been put on notice, as this rebuild will certainly be fast-tracked after this summer's failure.