When Rachael Rapinoe was looking at where to play college soccer, she made one thing clear to all recruiters: She and her twin sister, Megan, were a package deal. Before she was a superstar for the U.S. Women's National Team and an icon around the world, Megan was a shy teen who made it clear she wanted to go to the same school as Rachael. So they gave some friendly advice to the colleges recruiting them.
 
"We're going to go together, so if you don't want both of us, don't recruit any of us," Rachael said. After visiting the University of Portland and falling in love with the team culture, the sisters joined the Portland Pilots, and the rest is history.
 
In the second episode of the Portland Pilots Alumni Podcast, Rachael Rapinoe joins former men's basketball player Brant Minor to talk about her journey to and time on The Bluff, winning a national championship, her work empowering women around the world through sport and more.
 
Rapinoe was a part of the Portland squad that won the NCAA Women's Soccer National Championship back in 2005. She earned numerous accolades in 2006 after making the switch from defender to forward, including All-WCC Second Team, Soccer Buzz West Region Third Team, and several All-Academic honors. An ACL tear her senior year ended her college career, and she finished with 13 career goals and seven assists.
 
Since graduating, Rapinoe has traveled the world working to empower women through sport with her company, Rapinoe SC, which she co-founded with her sister. Rapinoe also worked with the University of Portland women's soccer team in 2018 as a performance coach. Most recently, Rapinoe started Mendi, an athlete-empowered CBD business focused on pain relief and keeping athletes at top performance.

Rapinoe was recently recognized by the Portland Business Journal in its Forty under 40 group for 2020, featuring 40 accomplished young business leaders who will shape the Portland economy in the future.
 
Listen to Rapinoe's chat with Brant Minor on the second episode of the Portland Pilots Alumni Podcast. Check out the YouTube Playlist to find other interviews, including the inaugural episode featuring former men's basketball player Pooh Jeter. If you are a former Pilot student-athlete, feel free to take our Student-Athlete Alumni Questionnaire so we can stay connected.
  
Rachael Rapinoe Alumni Podcast Notes/Timestamps 

• 1:35-3:05: Why she chose UP.
• 4:30-5:36: The National Championship, and the privilege that comes with that.
• 5:45-6:18: Switching from defender to forward.
• 7:10-8:20: Finding herself at the University of Portland.
• 9:10-11:00: Coming back as the performance coach for a brief time and seeing upgrades.
• 11:22-12:20: Using soccer to empower women.
• 12:20-13:30: Rapinoe SC and her work with Megan.
• 14:10-15:50: Mendi, her CBD company, dealing with the pandemic.
• 17:20-18:45: On growing up with Megan Rapinoe.
• 18:45-19:20: Megan pushing Rachael to be more of an activist.
• 21:00-21:55: On the bigger message when protecting vulnerable people.
• 22:35-24:00: Her "why"
• 25:20-27:10: Her advice to someone that is a student at the University of Portland.
• 28:30-29:20: On the importance of being where your feet are.
• 30:00-30:50: The importance of leaving opportunities open.
• 31:08-31:50: Life as a four-lane highway.