Megan Rapinoe exits NWSL championship with injury in final game ...

SAN DIEGO -- Megan Rapinoe's professional soccer career ended in cruel fashion Saturday as an injury forced the OL Reign star to be substituted in just the sixth minute of her team's 2-1 loss to NJ/NY Gotham FC in the NWSL championship game.

The U.S. women's national team icon, who announced in July that she would retire at the end of the season, suffered a noncontact injury to her right leg and sank to the turf before limping off the field at Snapdragon Stadium.

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As she hobbled to the sideline, Rapinoe hugged former longtime USWNT teammate and Gotham defender Ali Krieger, who was also playing her final game before retirement. Rapinoe was replaced by Bethany Balcer.

There was no immediate word about the severity of Rapinoe's injury. After exiting, she cheered on her team from the sideline but came back out for the second half using crutches.

Despite an illustrious career, which includes two World Cup titles, an Olympic gold medal and the Ballon d'Or Féminin, Rapinoe never won an NWSL title.

During the summer, Rapinoe retired from the USWNT after earning her 203rd cap.

In a breathless first half on Saturday, Gotham took the lead through Lynn Williams before Rose Lavelle brought the Reign level at 1-1 to the delight of Rapinoe.

But Gotham went ahead again in first-half stoppage time thanks to an Esther González goal. Despite a dramatic ending that saw Gotham goalkeeper Mandy Haught shown a red card, the New Jersey/New York club held out to seal its first NWSL championship.