Did you feel it this morning? The disturbance in the universe created by all the queer souls trying to escape their bodies at the news that WNBA superstar Sue Bird is dating USWNT superstar Megan Rapinoe? The disturbance was brought forth by ESPN’s wide-ranging, candid interview and profile with Bird, who has remained pretty quiet about her personal life throughout her career. It was both surprising and exhilarating to hear her simply say, “I’m gay. Megan’s my girlfriend.”
In the article, Bird opens up about dating Rapinoe; the two got together last fall, which is probably part of the reason the world didn’t entirely fall apart after the election, because there was still invisible LGBT magic holding it together at the seams.
Sue and Megan (and UConn superstar Maya Moore, cut off on the side of the frame) watching UConn win their 100th consecutive game in February.
Legendary women’s basketball writer Mechelle Voepel opens her profile with what Sue Bird is wearing the same way all profiles of famous women establish what they look like, but it’s glorious, and it’s for us. “She wears a ‘Femme Forever’ T-shirt, jeans and white Chucks. Dressed up or dressed down — even in her practice togs — her look is effortless.”
Voepel does a really nice job explaining Bird’s reticence to come out not as a shame issue, but more of a personal decision from a naturally private person (though Bird and the writer do touch on the very real issues of homophobia, sexism, and racism in professional sports).
“It’s happening when it’s happening because that’s what feels right,” Bird says. “So even though I understand there are people who think I should have done it sooner, it wasn’t right for me at the time. I have to be true to that. It’s my journey.”
Bird’s journey started at UConn when she realized she was gay, but she didn’t talked about it then, not even with her bestie and teammate Diana Taurasi, who just came out when she married retired WNBA player Penny Taylor in May. Bird and Taurasi only finally discussed their sexuality in the mid-2000s when they were playing together in Russia.
Bird said she was tempted to come out during the 2016 Olympics, but “chickened out.” She almost added it as #25 on a publicity questionnaire that asked her to write 25 things most people didn’t know about her. Then she heard it from the mouths of babes, one babe in fact: Elena Delle Donne, her Olympic teammate and Chicago Sky first-round-pick who also casually came out in a 2016 just ahead of the Olympics. She saw how easily Delle Donne, 26, chatted about her fiancée, Amanda Clifton, and was comforted by how ordinary it was.
Sue and Megan at a charity event for New York City Schools in December.
Of course Rapinoe is adorable throughout the interview, talking about how Sue Bird is her rock. And Bird speaks very plainly about how she enjoys her girlfriend’s passion.
The rest of the article is great, showing many facets of Bird’s life (I especially love her relationship with her best friend from childhood). According to teammate Lauren Jackson, Bird is always right and impossible to argue with.
I remember seeing Sue and Megan on TV in the crowd at a sporting event somewhere and thinking, “Holy smokes what if they’re together,” quickly followed with “Noooo, no way. It would be too much. They’re too beautiful and muscle-y and I am not sure we’re ready as a people yet.” But ready or not, this is real news in the real world. Two poster-worthy sports babes who have probably graced the bedrooms of a few readers and writers at Autostraddle, living and loving and shooting gay hoops together.
I used to think Soccer was the gayest sport but this past year has shown me that soccer and the WNBA are equally gay and there’s no better illustration of that than this blessed union. What a great thing to wake up to!
truly, bless their hands and feet that they may never lose their dribble
Haaaaaave you seen rugby? I have never been around a higher percentage of queer women than when I played rugby.
Anecdotal evidence to support this: My high school crush played rugby and insisted she wasn’t queer but later had somewhat of an identity crisis after she married a guy.
I played rugby in college (and coach now) and a few former teammates and I used to come up with seasonal percentages of out gay/bi ladies. We’ve gotten as high as 40-something percent out wlw. I’m not saying other sports aren’t as gay, but rugby is very, very gay.
I mean even straight women playing rugby ping my gaydar.
My mantra is “can’t tell if hella queer or just a rugby player”
Happy for them, great that that girl is out now.
But wasn’t Megan engaged to someone, like a singer or something.
Also sidenote, what is up with that gray shirt? It looked like she spilled her drink multiple times…
I stared at it for a whole minute trying to figure out if that was a fashion statement or the weirdest sweat stains ever
Yeah, according to that curve interview published in the first week of january 2017, Rapinoe was at that time (supposedly) still engaged to Sera Cahoone.
Source: http://www.curvemag.com/Celebs/Megan-Rapinoe-Global-Ambassador-1680/
This was immediately my reaction, too. I did some super serious Instagram digging, and Sera last makes an appearance on Megan’s Insta in August 2016. Interesting that the Curve interview would put them together even later because she and Sue apparently kicked things off in November 2016 – although it does read like they’d split but weren’t ready to announce that.
Welcome and Congrats Sue!
That trophy case is gone be totally packed when they U-Haul.
Talk about a power couple!
I am filled with happiness, slightly hazy with something I can only describe as wistful lustiness, and also screaming. Someone please name this emotion so that I can classify it and carry on.
Hmm. Lezthusiasm?
oh no i think it’s called a crush or being in love i am so sorry
Megan Rapinoe is my #2 favourite queer woman on the planet (only behind the incomparable Rachel Maddow) so I’m VERY happy to see her on the front page of Autostraddle, all happy and loved-up.
But I have to wonder – DID I MISS SOMETHING!? Because I thought, as of the 2016 Olympics, wasn’t she still engaged to Sera Cahoone? I clearly have not been paying proper attention. When did they break up? And does this mean love is a lie or not, I can’t tell…
I agree so hard with EVERYTHING about this. See replies to lauwer’s comment for breakup timing analysis…
I feel like the universe is taking my favorite athlete list from childhood and having them come out. If only I had known then that I had this power.
GO UCONN
My jaw just dropped!!! :) :) :)
Thanks for posting this! Can’t wait for the All-Star game on Saturday, too! Btw – is anyone else going? I totally understand and appreciate that Sue is a private person. Great ESPN article. <3<3<3 Go Storm!
Adds “shooting hoops” to euphemism list
“goaltending”
(which is a thing in both sports, conveniently)
Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus!
I’m glad that Bird’s finally at a place where she can break out of that glass closet. She and ‘Pinoe are so cute together and I wish nothing but the best for them both.
WOW as a girl who grew up in CT super into USMNT and UConn women’s bball thIS iS ePiC and ALSO i wish these players came out sooner but i understand it’s there journey and now all i want is Mia Hamm to be gay please