Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird have broken up, nearly six years after the two got engaged.
The retired athletes announced their split in a joint Instagram post shared April 17.
“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,” they wrote.
Rapinoe, 40, and Bird, 45, continued, “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.”
The two said that they are grateful for their supportive community who have uplifted them for being themselves.
“So many of you have reminded us, again and again, why loving out loud matters,” they added.
The two then mentioned that they would no longer be doing their podcast “A Touch More” together.
They said recording the podcast, which launched in August 2024, has brought them joy, laughter and connection.
“While this chapter of doing the podcast together is ending, what we’ve built with you isn’t. Thank you for being with us through all of it…it means the world to us,” they concluded.
Bird and Rapinoe also spoke about their breakup in a “personal update” for their podcast listeners. They uploaded a three-minute clip in which they expressed their love and appreciation for each other.
They then explained what fans can expect from the podcast in the upcoming weeks.
“It’s going to look a little bit different moving forward, obviously. Our relationship was such a huge part of this podcast for you guys, but also for us. From our bickers to ‘Are you a Megan? Are you a Sue?’, all the little funny stories that we shared and were a part of in between,” Rapinoe said. “So we really wanted to bring this here as well and be really transparent with all of you.”
She reaffirmed they will no longer host the podcast together.
“We are both really sad to be losing this space. It’s been so meaningful to us, especially post-retirement, to be able to have the space to share not just together, but with you as well,” Rapinoe shared.
But, Bird clarified that the podcast isn’t ending immediately. “We aren’t going anywhere,” Bird said. “We’re going to do a little trade off, hosting six more special episodes of ‘A Touch More’ that’ll be our farewell to you all and to this space.”
Both also shared some separate upcoming projects that fans can look forward to.
The former U.S. women’s soccer star and retired WNBA legend met for the first time prior to competing at the 2016 Rio Olympics, according to a 2021 GQ article.
They revealed they were dating in a 2017 ESPN story, in which Bird also came out. Bird told Time magazine in 2021 that Rapinoe encouraged her to publicly share her sexuality.
In October 2020, the two got engaged when they were in Antigua celebrating Bird’s 40th birthday. About a couple years later, they spoke to People about some possible wedding ideas.
Along with their podcast, Bird and Rapinoe launched a production company, also called A Touch More in 2022 “that centers stories of revolutionaries who move culture forward,” according to the website.
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