Additional Coverage:
- Ex-USWNT star Megan Rapinoe and WNBA great Sue Bird announce shocking split after 10 years (foxnews.com)
WNBA icon Sue Bird and former U.S. women’s soccer standout Megan Rapinoe have announced the end of their decade-long relationship.
The couple, who became engaged in 2020 but never tied the knot, shared the news in a heartfelt joint statement on social media this past Friday.
“There really is no smooth or easy way to share this news,” their statement began. “After a lot of thought, we’ve made the decision to separate as a couple.”
They reflected on the years they spent together, saying, “This hasn’t been an easy decision, but it’s one we’ve made together, with so much love, respect, and care for each other. We’ve shared a whole life over the last decade, through big moments and in quiet ones, and that is something we’ll always carry with us.”
Rapinoe, 40, and Bird, 45, also announced that their joint podcast, “A Touch More,” which they started during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, will conclude along with their relationship. They plan to produce six final special episodes as a farewell to their audience. In a video shared on the podcast’s YouTube channel, the two appeared separately to deliver the news.
Bird will continue her solo podcast, “Bird’s Eye View,” while Rapinoe intends to launch her own new podcast later this summer.
The couple first met during the 2016 Rio Olympics, where Rapinoe was competing with the U.S. women’s soccer team and Bird was playing for the U.S. women’s basketball team. They went public with their relationship in 2017.
Bird retired from professional basketball after the 2022 WNBA season, concluding an illustrious 21-year career. Rapinoe stepped away from the U.S. women’s national soccer team in 2023.
They expressed deep gratitude to their supporters, saying, “We are so grateful to this incredible community that has held us up, welcomed us in, and supported us exactly as we are. So many of you have reminded us, again and again, why loving out loud matters.”
The statement closed with thanks to fans for their support throughout the years: “Thank you for being with us through all of it…it means the world to us. With so much love, Megan and Sue.”