Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird, one of the most recognized power couples in sports, have announced their separation after a 10-year relationship. The news was shared by the decorated athletes on Friday during an episode of their popular podcast, “A Touch More,” signaling an end to both their romantic partnership and their joint media venture.
The couple, whose relationship often garnered public attention, including after Rapinoe’s 2019 Women’s World Cup triumph and her public disagreements with then-President Trump, confirmed the split was a mutual decision. Both Rapinoe and Bird have recently retired from their respective professional sports careers, marking a period of significant transition in their lives.
A new chapter for “A Touch More”
As part of their announcement, Rapinoe and Bird revealed that “A Touch More” will be phased out, though they plan to host six more special “farewell” episodes for their listeners. Looking ahead, both athletes are embarking on individual podcast endeavors. Megan Rapinoe is set to launch her own podcast, while Sue Bird is committed to a second season of her existing venture, “Bird’s Eye View.”
Speaking on the podcast, Rapinoe emphasized the thought and care behind their decision. “I hope you all know we put a lot of thought and care into this. It’s a decision that we made together. We’re still going to be there for all of you and for each other. It’s just going to look and feel a little bit different,” she stated. Bird echoed the sentiment, acknowledging the public nature of their shared journey. “We have shared so much of our life, so much of our relationship with you, so that’s why we wanted to come on here and share this, too. These past 10 years have given us so much, and launching this podcast and sharing this space has been one of our favorite things that we’ve done together,” Bird added, as reported by CNN.
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Legacies on and off the field
Both Rapinoe and Bird carved out legendary careers in their respective sports, solidifying their status as icons. Megan Rapinoe, a prominent figure in women’s football, is a two-time World Cup winner and an Olympic champion. Her career saw her feature in the Women’s World Cup teams in 2011, 2015, and 2019.
Sue Bird is widely regarded as one of the greatest women’s basketball players in history. Her illustrious 20-year career includes:
Four WNBA championships
13 WNBA All-Star selections
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A record-tying five Olympic basketball gold medals with Team USA, according to CNN.
WNBA all-time leader in assists.
The separation marks the end of an era for a couple who transcended their individual sports, becoming symbols of athletic excellence and LGBTQ+ representation. While their romantic partnership concludes, both athletes appear poised to continue their influential voices in new capacities.
Sources: edition.cnn.com
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