After a decade together, one of sports’ most iconic love stories is coming to an end, and it's coming straight for their own fingers. Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird announced they’ve officially broken up, sharing a joint statement that feels just as thoughtful and intentional as their relationship always was.
© Getty“There really is no smooth or easy way to share this news,” they wrote. “After a lot of thought, we’ve made the decision to separate as a couple.”
© Getty“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,” they continued. “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.”
© GettyThe former couple met backstage at a photo shoot for the 2016 Rio Olympics. “She was in her basketball uniform, and she had her hair down,” Rapinoe told NBC in 2021, per Us Weekly. If you’ve followed them over the years, you know this relationship was part of a cultural moment.
Rapinoe is a two-time World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist who became a global voice for equality and activism. She led the U.S. Women's National Team’s successful fight for equal pay against the U.S. Soccer Federation in 2019.
© GettyBird, a four-time WNBA champion and five-time Olympic gold medalist, built one of the most legendary careers in basketball history, all with the Seattle Storm.
Together, they weren’t just dominant in their sport. Their intersectional activism and voices for LGBTQ+ rights made them deeply respected. They were the definition of a power couple.
© GettyEven though they never got married, their partnership felt solid. They got engaged in 2020, with Rapinoe telling Jimmy Kimmel, in 2020 "I didn't really have a special ring. I actually took one of the rings off my fingers and gave it to Sue. And I didn't know exactly when I was gonna do it, but just the perfect moment presented itself."
They also confirmed that their joint podcast, A Touch More, won’t continue in the same way. “Getting to create A Touch More and build a network around it has been a tremendous joy,” they shared. “The conversations, the laughter, the connection—it means more than we can put into words. While this chapter of doing the podcast together is ending, what we’ve built with you isn’t.”
© GettyThey ended the message by thanking the community that supported them throughout their relationship: “So many of you have reminded us, again and again, why loving out loud matters.”
For a couple that helped redefine what love looked like, especially in sports, fans are taking it hard. "MY PARENTS ARE GETTING DIVORCED," reads one of the top-liked comments on their post. "So, unfortunately, no, we cannot accept that at this time. Thank you," and "April Fools was a few weeks ago!" were among some of the other disappointed comments.
Jokes aside, others shared what their relationship meant for them. "Sue and Megan together made me believe there’s still good in the world and nothing will take that away," one person wrote.
