Sue Bird says her decade-long relationship with Megan Rapinoe ended after they realized they had “grown” in different directions, despite “great terms” and “no bad blood.” The WNBA legend also revealed the split has changed how they handle their podcast.
Sue Bird didn’t frame the end of her relationship with Megan Rapinoe as heartbreak delivered in a single dramatic moment. She described it the way many people recognize the truth only after it’s already happened: you change. you keep talking. and eventually you face the possibility that it simply might not be working anymore.
Bird, a WNBA legend and the cover star of the most recent edition of Women’s Health, addressed the split that shocked fans last month. Back in April, Bird and Rapinoe announced they were going their separate ways in a joint statement after almost ten years together.
Their story began backstage at a photoshoot for the 2016 Rio Olympics. The pair started dating for nearly a decade after that meeting, and they became engaged in October 2020 without ever tying the knot.
In the Women’s Health interview, Bird said the reason the relationship broke down came down to change and communication. She explained: “It’s like anything. It’s like, you grow, you change, you start having conversations about that in your relationship. It just got to a point where we realized it might not be working anymore.”.
Bird added that the couple “definitely planned on being together forever,” underscoring how far their shared future plans had gone before the decision to separate.
Despite the split, Bird stressed there was no rupture in how they treat each other. She revealed she is still on “great terms” with Rapinoe, who is a two-time USA World Cup winner in her soccer career, and said there is “no bad blood.”
The two also weren’t just a high-profile couple who stepped in front of cameras—they built public projects together. They relaunched their podcast. “A Touch More. ” in summer 2024. using it to discuss women’s sports and the culture around it. After the split, Bird said they also confirmed they will no longer be recording the show together.
“When we were doing the podcast the last month, is it a little awkward for the two of us?. Yeah,” Bird said. She then added that what still existed between them wasn’t performative: “The chemistry and the interaction between us. that was still very real. It really is rooted in an actual love for each other.”.
Their April statement left no doubt that the decision was hard and carefully considered. They wrote: “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 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.”
Bird and Rapinoe also thanked the community that supported them: “We are so grateful to this incredible community that has held us up, welcomed us in, and supported us exactly as we are. So many of you have reminded us, again and again, why loving out loud matters.”
Sue Bird Megan Rapinoe breakup relationship WNBA USWNT podcast A Touch More Women’s Health Rio 2016 Olympics October 2020 engagement