LYON, France — A cannonade of camera clicks made Megan Rapinoe stop for a second, pull her head back slightly and quietly say, “Whoa!” when she entered the room.
At least twice as many reporters and photographers compared to previous news conferences crammed into an auditorium at Stade de Lyon the day before Sunday’s World Cup final between the United States and Netherlands. She paused only a second before easing into her chair and taking on a range of questions with the comfortable and forthright demeanor she’s now known for.
First question: Many players on other teams think you’re an inspiration.