SEATTLE _ Just hours before the USWNT's World Cup semifinal match against England Tuesday morning, three-time WNBA champion Sue Bird penned an article for The Players' Tribune, titled "So the President F(ASTERISK)cking Hates My Girlfriend," expressing her thoughts on girlfriend Megan Rapinoe's recent outspoken dispute with President Donald Trump, the equal pay battle within women's athletics and, of course, her passion for the U.S. run in the World Cup.
A video was published last week of Rapinoe stating she would not attend a trip to the White House if the U.S. team was invited at the conclusion of the World Cup. In response, Trump tagged the Reign FC forward in a tweet criticizing her for disrespecting the country and telling her to "WIN first" and "Finish the job" before talking.
Bird addressed the situation as "an out-of-body experience" watching as her girlfriend suddenly became the target of online hate from Trump supporters nationwide.
"I mean, some of it is kind of funny..... but like in a REALLY? REALLY? THIS GUY??? kind of way," she wrote. "Like, dude _ there's nothing better demanding your attention?? It would be ridiculous to the point of laughter, if it wasn't so gross."
The Seattle Storm guard wrote that while the experience frightened her, it only made Rapinoe stronger in who she is and her convictions.
"But then Megan, Man... I'll tell you what. You just cannot shake that girl. She's going to do her thing, at her own damn speed, to her own damn rhythm, and she's going to apologize to exactly NO ONE for it."
Bird concluded by linking to a voting-registration website.
Bird also shared her opinions about the fight for equal pay within women's athletics. She called out those not on her side and said the recent support from members of the NBA has increased her passion on the issue. She used the ongoing USWNT's lawsuit against the U.S. Soccer Federation as example of how profitable women's sports can be.
"If you're not on the right side of this fight, and advocating fiercely for equal pay _ whether it's in soccer, or basketball, or in any other industry, and across every intersectional boundary _ then I just straight-up feel bad for you," Bird wrote.
On a lighter note, Bird also weighed in on Rapinoe's pink hair (she hated the choice at first, but has grown to like it), called her girlfriend an alien from another planet for her free-kick shooting ability, gave her World Cup predictions (to which she believes U.S. will beat England 2-0), and offered a proclamation of her love toward Rapinoe and what she's doing outside the world of soccer.
