Megan Rapinoe has been named Sports Illustrated‘s Sportsperson of the Year, marking another individual achievement the United States women’s national team co-captain in 2019.
The accolade comes after the U.S. successfully defended its World Cup title last summer, becoming only the second team to win back-to-back women’s World Cup titles. In addition to winning the Golden Ball and the Golden Boot at the tournament, Rapinoe became a household name in the United States and elsewhere for both her sporting ability and her political beliefs. After years of advocating for equal pay for the USWNT and speaking out on other human-rights issues, Rapinoe’s star rose not just as a talented athlete, but as someone who uses her platform for larger issues.