In this episode of The Women's Game, soccer icon Megan Rapinoe discusses her plans for retirement and her perspective on the USWNT's coaching transition and rising talent. She shares her advocacy priorities for LGBTQ, racial, and gender equality, both in sports and broader civil liberties. The conversation also covers Rapinoe's critique of Saudi Arabia's 2035 Women's World Cup bid and her thoughts on voting in the 2024 US elections.
Rapinoe offers insights on the thoughtful growth and development of women's sports, advocating for nuanced approaches tailored to their unique needs. The retired soccer star provides a candid look at her post-playing career, social activism, and the future she envisions for women's sports and society.
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Megan Rapinoe plans to volunteer with the US Women's National Team (USWNT) in an unofficial capacity after retiring. She will also spend time with her fiancée Sue Bird and attend women's sports events as a fan.
Rapinoe and Bird are passionate about the growth of women's sports. Rapinoe emphasizes the importance of strategic advancement through media deals, investment, and increasing player salaries. However, she believes in nuanced approaches tailored for women's sports instead of copying men's models.
Rapinoe respects Emma Hayes' commitment to Chelsea but understands the USWNT's interim coaching period is challenging for players. She believes Hayes' charisma and media savviness are qualities the team needs.
Rapinoe is impressed by the young USWNT talent, who she believes will establish their own identity and legacy. She sees them as an "insanely talented" group poised for continued success despite transitional challenges.
Rapinoe advocates for LGBTQ, racial, and gender rights. She fights rollbacks on civil liberties, especially protecting trans rights.
Rapinoe calls out racism, sexism, and homophobia in sports. Her advocacy helped the USWNT achieve equal pay in 2022.
Rapinoe questions Saudi Arabia's bid to host the 2035 Women's World Cup, seeing it as 'sportswashing' to cover up human rights issues. She raises concerns over safety/inclusivity for LGBTQ players.
Rapinoe emphasizes the importance of voting against Donald Trump in 2024, subtly indicating a preference for Biden. However, she rejects pursuing a political career herself.
1-Page Summary
Megan Rapinoe, a prominent face of women's soccer and advocacy, shares her plans for retirement and her deep commitment to the growth and sustainability of women's sports.
Megan Rapinoe, after contributing to the historic legal victory for the US women's national team's equal pay in May 2022, looks forward to continuing her support in an unofficial capacity. Her post-retirement plans include spending quality time with her fiancée, basketball star Sue Bird, and attending events together.
Rapinoe and Bird share a passion for the current and future state of women's sports, planning to be involved in projects that bolster their growth. Rapinoe is eager to support women's sports as a fan, celebrating the strides and accomplishments of various teams and athletes.
Strategic advancement is at the forefront of Rapinoe's agenda for women's sports; she emphasizes the positive changes like new media deals and increases in player salaries. She considers these elements, along with strategic investments in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), crucial to building a sustainable future for women's sports.
Instead of merely replicating the success models of men's leagues, Rapinoe calls for tailored approaches to women's sports that optimize fan and ...
Rapinoe's plans in retirement and advocacy for women's sports growth
Megan Rapinoe shares her candid thoughts on the recent coaching changes within the United States Women's National Soccer Team (USWNT) and her excitement for the future as a new generation of players emerges.
Rapinoe respects Emma Hayes' commitment to Chelsea, understanding that Hayes' decision not to leave early was difficult for the USWNT, which is entering an important year without a permanent head coach. She acknowledges the challenge for the current players due to the timing of the coaching change, suggesting the interim period between coaches is tough, especially approaching a world championship and Olympic cycle.
Rapinoe recognizes that US Soccer made a bet on Hayes' ability to grow the team over the long term and empathizes with the players for the demands of adjusting during this transition period, despite excitement about Hayes. Rapinoe recalls playing for Emma Hayes in Chicago and, despite Hayes being fired from that role, she acknowledges Hayes' charisma and media savviness as qualities that the team needs.
Rapinoe is impressed by the influx of young talent on the USWNT and is positive about the direction of the team. She emphasizes the importance of the new generation in forming its own identity and legacy. Rapinoe notes that, unlike the previous group which was deeply involved in a fight for equal pay, the current era should focus on growth on and off the field, allowing players to find their own lanes and personalities.
Rapinoe expresses her belief that Emma Hayes will be good for the young players, as she will allow them to "just go do their thing and live into themselves," which is crucial for establishing their own identity. She underlines the strength and potential of the team, highlighting that the players have the opportunity to continue shaping what the team becomes. Rapinoe sees an "insanely talented" group that has a real chance to craft a unique chapter in the story o ...
Rapinoe's perspective on 2023 USWNT coaching change and future
Megan Rapinoe's leadership on and off the field has solidified her role as a champion for social activism, advancing LGBTQ, racial, and gender rights while vigorously standing against discrimination in sports.
Rapinoe has been a passionate advocate for various civil liberties, focusing on racial equality, paid maternity leave, equal pay, and particularly LGBTQ rights, where she emphasizes the current critical need to protect trans rights. Publicly coming out as gay ahead of the Olympics in 2012, she has not only set an example but has led the US women's national team to a gold medal. Rapinoe's actions on and off the field demonstrate her dedication to fighting rollbacks on civil liberties.
Megan Rapinoe has made it her mission to address the persistent issues of racism, sexism, and homophobia in sports. She has acknowledged the importance of having conversatio ...
Social activism priorities
Megan Rapinoe challenges the prospect of Saudi Arabia, with its contentious human rights record, hosting the 2035 Women's World Cup.
Rapinoe acknowledges the potential positives of Saudi Arabia hosting the World Cup, such as local women gaining visibility of women's sports and female athletes, which could serve as role models in a place where such opportunities are rare. However, she raises critical concerns over FIFA's motivations behind considering Saudi Arabia's bid, seeing it as a pursuit of money and influence rather than a focus on the sport's values.
Rapinoe questions Saudi Arabia's efforts, termed 'sportswashing,' where a country invests heavily in global s ...
Concerns about World Cup bid and sportswashing by Saudi Arabia
Megan Rapinoe, known for her nuanced understanding of social issues, expresses strong opinions about the importance of voting in the upcoming US election year.
Rapinoe emphasizes the significance of voter participation, urging listeners to cast their votes against Donald Trump, whom she finds unfit for the presidency. She subtly indicates a preference for Biden over Trump by discussing the chatter surrounding Biden and illustrative memes that bluntly suggest dire consequences if Trump is chosen again, hinting at a future where voting may no longer be possible.
Although Rapinoe underscores the necessity of staying engaged with the election, she rejects the idea of pursuing a political caree ...
Voting rights and upcoming 2024 US elections
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