Blab Sports
Sue Bird Opens Up About Decade-Long Relationship Ending with Megan Rapinoe
On June 9, 2026, Women’s Health captured a quiet, candid conversation in which former WNBA star Sue Bird laid bare the reasons behind the end of her ten‑year partnership with former U.S. Women’s National Team midfielder Megan Rapinoe.
The couple first made their bond public in July 2017, after meeting in Rio de Janeiro during the 2016 Olympics where both represented Seattle‑based teams—Bird with the Seattle Storm and Rapinoe with the Seattle Reign. Their romance blossomed into an engagement in October 2020, and they announced their split on April 17, 2026, in a joint Instagram post that also marked the conclusion of their popular podcast, A Touch More.
When asked why the relationship ended, Bird said the decision was gradual. “It’s like anything. It’s like, you grow, you change, you start having conversations about that in your relationship, and it just got to a point where we realized it might not be working anymore,” she told Women’s Health. She added that the couple had been in therapy, which helped them communicate during the process. “It’s made it a lot more, for me, easier and calmer,” she said.
Bird emphasized that the split was not abrupt and that there was no bad blood between them. “We definitely planned on being together forever,” she said. “We’re on great terms and there’s no bad blood.”
The decision unfolded over several months, according to Bird. She noted that her nieces—13‑ and 11‑year‑old daughters of her sister Jen—had asked questions about the breakup, indicating the impact on their extended family. Bird said she was excited to move forward with a new version of herself. “There’s no way I am who I am without being with Megan,” she said. “But now that it’s over, I get to take this kind of, like, newish, grown‑ish, healed‑ish version of myself and be out in the world again. It’s exciting, it’s scary, it’s all of it.”
Bird’s retirement from professional basketball came at the end of the 2022 WNBA season, after a career that included four championships, five Olympic gold medals, and numerous All‑Star selections. Rapinoe retired from soccer in 2023, following a career that featured two FIFA Women’s World Cup titles (2015, 2019), an Olympic gold medal in 2012, and recognition as a leading activist for LGBTQIA+ rights.
Both athletes have continued to pursue media projects. Bird is developing a new podcast series titled Bird’s Eye View, while Rapinoe announced plans to host a miniseries covering the upcoming FIFA men’s World Cup.
The breakup was announced in the same episode of A Touch More that the duo had been hosting for several years. Bird said the chemistry on the show remained real, but the dynamic had shifted. “When we were doing the podcast the last month, is it a little awkward for the two of us? Yeah,” she said. “The chemistry and the interaction between us, that was still very real. It really is rooted in an actual love for each other.”
The couple’s story has drawn attention not only for its high profile but also for the public discussion of relationship dynamics among elite athletes. Their decision to end the partnership peacefully and with mutual respect provides a rare example of a long‑term relationship concluding without public conflict.
As both Bird and Rapinoe move forward, their respective careers continue to evolve. Bird’s next projects include her new podcast and potential roles in sports broadcasting, while Rapinoe’s focus shifts to media work and advocacy. The sports community will likely continue to observe how each athlete leverages their experience and platform in the post‑relationship phase.
The breakup underscores the personal challenges that can accompany the demands of professional sports careers, even for those who have achieved significant success on the international stage.
The couple first made their bond public in July 2017, after meeting in Rio de Janeiro during the 2016 Olympics where both represented Seattle‑based teams—Bird with the Seattle Storm and Rapinoe with the Seattle Reign. Their romance blossomed into an engagement in October 2020, and they announced their split on April 17, 2026, in a joint Instagram post that also marked the conclusion of their popular podcast, A Touch More.
When asked why the relationship ended, Bird said the decision was gradual. “It’s like anything. It’s like, you grow, you change, you start having conversations about that in your relationship, and it just got to a point where we realized it might not be working anymore,” she told Women’s Health. She added that the couple had been in therapy, which helped them communicate during the process. “It’s made it a lot more, for me, easier and calmer,” she said.
Bird emphasized that the split was not abrupt and that there was no bad blood between them. “We definitely planned on being together forever,” she said. “We’re on great terms and there’s no bad blood.”
The decision unfolded over several months, according to Bird. She noted that her nieces—13‑ and 11‑year‑old daughters of her sister Jen—had asked questions about the breakup, indicating the impact on their extended family. Bird said she was excited to move forward with a new version of herself. “There’s no way I am who I am without being with Megan,” she said. “But now that it’s over, I get to take this kind of, like, newish, grown‑ish, healed‑ish version of myself and be out in the world again. It’s exciting, it’s scary, it’s all of it.”
Bird’s retirement from professional basketball came at the end of the 2022 WNBA season, after a career that included four championships, five Olympic gold medals, and numerous All‑Star selections. Rapinoe retired from soccer in 2023, following a career that featured two FIFA Women’s World Cup titles (2015, 2019), an Olympic gold medal in 2012, and recognition as a leading activist for LGBTQIA+ rights.
Both athletes have continued to pursue media projects. Bird is developing a new podcast series titled Bird’s Eye View, while Rapinoe announced plans to host a miniseries covering the upcoming FIFA men’s World Cup.
The breakup was announced in the same episode of A Touch More that the duo had been hosting for several years. Bird said the chemistry on the show remained real, but the dynamic had shifted. “When we were doing the podcast the last month, is it a little awkward for the two of us? Yeah,” she said. “The chemistry and the interaction between us, that was still very real. It really is rooted in an actual love for each other.”
The couple’s story has drawn attention not only for its high profile but also for the public discussion of relationship dynamics among elite athletes. Their decision to end the partnership peacefully and with mutual respect provides a rare example of a long‑term relationship concluding without public conflict.
As both Bird and Rapinoe move forward, their respective careers continue to evolve. Bird’s next projects include her new podcast and potential roles in sports broadcasting, while Rapinoe’s focus shifts to media work and advocacy. The sports community will likely continue to observe how each athlete leverages their experience and platform in the post‑relationship phase.
The breakup underscores the personal challenges that can accompany the demands of professional sports careers, even for those who have achieved significant success on the international stage.
