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Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe have called off their relationship, the two sporting icons confirmed in a statement released on Friday.
The WNBA legend and USWNT star had been together for close to ten years and became engaged in 2020, establishing themselves as one of the most celebrated couples in the sports world. Bird and Rapinoe shared the news of their split through a joint statement on their podcast, A Touch More, and via Instagram.
"This hasn't been a simple decision, but it's one we've reached together with an enormous amount of love, respect, and care for one another," Bird and Rapinoe's shared Instagram post read. "We've lived a full life together over the past ten years, through major milestones and quiet everyday moments, and that is something we'll always hold close.
"We are deeply grateful to this wonderful community that has supported us, embraced us, and stood by us exactly as we are. So many of you have reminded us, time and time again, why loving openly matters. ... While the chapter of hosting the podcast together is now closing, what we've created with you is not. Thank you for being part of this journey with us... it truly means everything."
With so much love 🫶 pic.twitter.com/Kd9iomFykI
Their podcast, A Touch More, will also be wrapping up following their separation. Bird and Rapinoe plan to release six final episodes over the coming weeks, with each taking turns as host. Rapinoe will then helm a miniseries covering this summer's 2026 FIFA men's World Cup, after which the podcast will officially conclude.
Looking ahead to their individual media careers, Rapinoe has announced plans to launch her own solo podcast later this year. Bird, who currently holds a management position with Team USA Basketball, will contribute to NBC's WNBA coverage this season and will continue hosting her own podcast, Bird's Eye View.
Bird and Rapinoe first crossed paths in Seattle, where Bird played for the WNBA's Seattle Storm and Rapinoe suited up for the NWSL's Seattle Reign. Their romance reportedly sparked in 2016, when both were representing Team USA — in basketball and soccer, respectively — at the Rio Summer Olympics. The couple went public with their relationship the following year and announced their engagement in October 2020, though they ultimately never married.
"I'm gay. Megan's my girlfriend. ... These aren't secrets to the people who know me," Bird said during an ESPN interview in 2017. "I don't feel like I've been hiding my life. People tend to assume that if you're not talking about something, you must be concealing it. That was never the case for me."
Bird, 45, and Rapinoe, 40, are widely regarded as two of the greatest athletes of all time in their respective sports. Bird, a Hall of Fame point guard, captured four WNBA championships during her two-decade career with the Storm and earned five Olympic gold medals with Team USA; Rapinoe claimed two World Cup titles, one Olympic gold, and one Olympic bronze with the USWNT before retiring from international soccer in 2023. She is tied with USWNT icon Abby Wambach for third all-time in assists, and is among only eight players in USWNT history to record 50-plus career goals and 50-plus career assists.
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Kristen Wong is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. She has been a sports journalist since 2020 and holds a bachelor's degree in English and linguistics from Columbia University. Prior to joining SI in November 2023, Wong covered four NFL teams as an associate editor within the FanSided NFL network and served as a staff writer for the brand's main site. She is a lifelong Liverpool supporter who enjoys tackling crossword puzzles and spending time at her local dive bar in NYC.