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Former American football star Megan Rapinoe questioned the motivations of efforts to protect women’s sports from transgender inclusion in the latest episode of her podcast with Basketball Hall of Famer Sue Bird.
Rapinoe responded to an op-ed written by Angel City FC player Elizabeth Eddy that called for the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) to adopt clear gender standards with different means of testing. Eddy garnered backlash and support from both sides of the issue with his column.
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Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe watch the first quarter between the United States and France in the men’s basketball gold medal game during the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games at Accor Arena on August 10, 2024. (Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports)
Rapinoe, who won World Cup and Olympic gold with the U.S. national team, took issue with the New York Post using a photo of Orlando Pride player Barbra Banda in the editorial, even as Banda was forced to withdraw from the Zambian national team after failing to meet gender eligibility requirements in 2022.
She then raised her issue with the “Save Women’s Sports” movement on the “A Touch More” podcast.
“Are we really protecting women in sports or are we doing it thinly veiled, ‘Oh my God, we’re scared and we need to protect women in sports?'” Rapinoe said in a mocking tone. “And it’s like we’re okay. We don’t even have any trans players in the NWSL. It was really, in my opinion, pretty disingenuous.”
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Megan Rapinoe (15), then OL Reign forward, and midfielder Jessica Fishlock (10) walk on the field before a game against the North Carolina Courage at Lumen Field on October 1, 2023. (Stephen Brashear/USA TODAY Sports)
Rapinoe turned her attention to Landon Donovan and the former American men’s soccer star’s new hairpiece. Donovan opened up about his new hair in The Athletic in October.
Rapinoe compared the plight of gay and transgender people to that of Donovan, who wanted to get rid of being the butt of jokes in public and on social media.
“I was totally struck by the familiarity of the story and the similarity to, as a queer person, our own quest for gay rights and being fully ourselves, especially trans people, in that moment in general,” Rapinoe said. “And like, how you feel when you look in the mirror is important. How you feel in your own body is important. It doesn’t matter what other people think.
Former Seattle Reign midfielder Megan Rapinoe (15) acknowledges fans during a jersey retirement ceremony before a game between the North Carolina Courage and the Seattle Reign at Lumen Field on August 25, 2024. (Stephen Brashear/USA TODAY Sports)
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“I think a lot of times when we talk about gay rights, and especially trans rights, we’re trying to express on a basic level how vital and important it is for everyone to be able to exist in their own skin and in their own body in the way that they want and the way that they’re comfortable. It doesn’t have to do with anyone else. And that can be really life-changing, it can save lives in so many ways. And I just think that’s really important,” she added.
