Bird and Rapinoe thanked supporters in a joint post Friday as they announced they are ending their relationship.
SEATTLE — Seattle sports stars Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe are separating, the couple said Friday in a joint Instagram statement.
“There really is no smooth or easy way to share this news. After a lot of thought, we’ve made the decision to separate as a couple,” the statement said.
Bird and Rapinoe said the decision was difficult, but one they made together “with so much love, respect, and care for each other.”
They also reflected on their years together, writing that they had “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.”
The pair thanked supporters who followed their relationship over the years.
“We are so grateful to this incredible community that has held us up, welcomed us in, and supported us exactly as we are,” the statement said. “So many of you have reminded us, again and again, why loving out loud matters.”
Bird and Rapinoe also said their time working together on “A Touch More: The Podcast” had meant a great deal to them, but that part of their partnership is ending as well.
“Getting to create A Touch More: The Podcast and build a network around it has been a tremendous joy,” they wrote. “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.”
Bird and Rapinoe had long been one of Seattle’s best-known sports couples.
They announced their engagement in October 2020 in an Instagram post showing Rapinoe on one knee placing a ring on Bird’s finger. The post drew thousands of likes and congratulatory comments.
Bird played for the Seattle Storm since being drafted in 2002 and helped the team win its fourth WNBA championship in 2020. She retired after the 2022 season. Rapinoe became a leading figure for the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team during the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
In 2021, the couple sat down with NBC and talked about meeting for the first time backstage at a photo shoot for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
“She was in her basketball uniform and she had her hair down,” Rapinoe said.
“We kinda crossed and she was like, “Oh, hey! Ready for your game?’” Bird said. “I was like, haha… funny.”
“I walked away like, ‘why would you ever say that?’” Rapinoe said. “I made such a bad impression.”
“So dorky, I walked away like, I thought you were supposed to be cool? We joke about it now cause she was a total dork,” Bird said.
During that interview, both spoke about the bond they shared as elite athletes. Bird said one of their favorite things to do together was cook because it meant they were home, something she said was rare.
“I think being an elite athlete it’s really a one-of-a-kind experience, and to be dating somebody who has that same experience, it’s really incredible,” Bird said.
“I mean to be honest it’s like totally normal, but I also know that she’s GOAT status,” Rapinoe said. “I don’t know, we’re just normal, we are pretty boring and like to sit on the couch and do what most people do.”
To ensure diverse coverage and expert insight across a wide range of topics, our publication features contributions from multiple staff writers with varied areas of expertise.
