Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe have broken up after nearly a decade together, the two announced Friday in a statement. The announcement was posted to the social media page of their joint podcast, \u201cA Touch More.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere really is no smooth or easy way to share this news. After a lot of thought, we\u2019ve made the decision to separate as a couple,\u201d the statement read. \u201cThis hasn\u2019t been an easy decision but it\u2019s one we\u2019ve made together, with so much love, respect and care for each other. We\u2019ve shared a whole life over the last decade, through big moments and in quiet ones, and that is something we\u2019ll always carry with us.\u201d<\/p>\n
The pair also posted a video addressing what they called \u201ca personal update,\u201d sharing that they will no longer be recording the podcast on a weekly basis. In the video, Rapinoe said that they made the decision \u201ctogether\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been so meaningful to us, especially post-retirement, to be able to have this space to share, not just together but with you as well,\u201d Rapinoe said. \u201cWe\u2019re still gonna be there for all of you, and for each other, it\u2019s just gonna look and feel a little bit different.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bird, a Hall of Fame WNBA point guard, and Rapinoe, a legendary NWSL and U.S. women\u2019s national team forward, began dating in 2016 and went public with their relationship in 2017<\/a>. They announced their engagement<\/a> in October 2020 but were never officially married.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n The two met in Seattle<\/a>, where Bird spent 20 years playing for the Seattle Storm<\/a> and Rapinoe spent 11 years playing for the Seattle Reign. The couple was known for appearing together at women\u2019s sporting events together, especially in Seattle.<\/p>\n Bird and Rapinoe are considered two of the greatest players of all time in their respective sports. Bird holds four WNBA championships with the Storm and five Olympic gold medals with Team USA; Rapinoe is a three-time NWSL Shield winner with the Reign and has won two World Cups, one Olympic gold and one Olympic bronze with the USWNT.<\/p>\n The pair retired within a year of each other: Bird retired from the Storm in 2022, and Rapinoe played her final games in the fall of 2023. Both were at the other\u2019s side during their respective retirement tours.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n