:quality(70)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-cmg.s3.amazonaws.com/public/DDIMYBTOKY5J3GPO45SV3A4PCA.jpg)
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Arsenal and Fiorentina brought the International Champions Cup back to Bank of America Stadium over the weekend, but it was U.S. Women's National Team World Cup hero Megan Rapinoe who stole the show. Along the way, buffeted by searing temperatures and a ho-hum match-up, Charlotte had its smallest turnout of any of the five matches played here since 2014.
Tournament promoter Relevent Sports Group brought in Rapinoe to build excitement for the game as well as a companion fan festival earlier in the day at Romare Bearden Park. Rapinoe came on stage at the fan festival and struck her signature, arms-open after-goal celebratory pose — a pose that became iconic as Rapinoe scored the most goals in the World Cup this summer while leading Team USA to its second straight championship.
>> Reading this story in our app? The new "Follow the Lead" feature allows you to tap the blue tag indicated with a '+' to subscribe to alerts on the very latest breaking news updates.
"Stuff like this is incredible," she said. "To be able to bring some of the best teams in the world here, to see the interest that we have in a city like this, that doesn't have an MLS team." Rapinoe paused, then said, "yet," eliciting roars, before adding, "But I hear it's in the works …"
Read the full story and check out photos here.
Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com:
- Person dies after jet ski crash on Lake Norman, officials say
- Crews responding to crash involving NC trooper on motorcycle in west Charlotte
- NC father killed after wave off Oak Island broke neck to donate organs
- FORECAST: Last day of heat wave before cold front, storms move in
- Deputies: 4-wheeler rider shot, killed after reportedly running two people over
Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/LH3JSJEF3VBLRJLJQESEAG34AM.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/O64AS4PSV5EDZEFWERPIV46ZNQ.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/6PFHPRC3YFFWFN7SWOQD5C5HVA.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/C2U2KANLVFB6LIKEIHGWC7OCNI.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/SP2J3KED2BDE7NQSK2ABQR6ZU4.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/MPNDHQSAA5HPLGBUZSXAC3YESA.jpeg)