Megan rapinoe let's do it.
It's good to see you. Yeah,
cheers an aperol spritz, eh?
Hmm, the Italian in me.
You've been here. What close to a
decade now? Yeah, this is my 10th season.
The OG of the rain.
I know literally what's
changed in that decade.
Everything and nothing.
We're back in Seattle playing games,
which is amazing.
Used to be back in a big stadium,
you know, we've never really
had a proper home.
I feel like for the product that
we have on the field and just the
wild personalities that we have
training facilities.
Probably in the next.
The next step, right?
Yeah, I think so.
That's our next really big hurdle
and I think for the players too.
That's just the thing that we
are experiencing on the daily.
So that's a big one for us.
And it's been a crazy pendulum
swinging year for this league.
Absolutely, you have.
You see, the two new clubs coming
in governing body of the sport
of the front offices of the
sport totally failed the players.
I think that's not even in question.
I mean obviously the most
egregious of things you know.
We know what they are with mana and with Kai.
And with Sinead of those things
unacceptable in every facet of life.
But I think there's a different vibe
and a different understanding and
expectation from whether you're an owner
or you're a trainer or you're a coach,
or you're a player.
There's like a a much more, I think,
safe place for the players to play.
You came here. You were already
an Olympian gold medalist,
but it seems like halfway through this run
you you became a star on another level.
In terms of your training, you're scoring.
I have all the stats right in front.
In 2017, twelve goals in 18 games,
187 appearances for Team USA,
62 goals, 71 assists.
So what changed mid decade that all
of a sudden you hit like another
level? A lot of things.
I've torn my ACL right after the World Cup.
And 15. That was a huge changing point.
I think I just turned 30 by
the grace of God met Sue.
She has had a huge impact on me
both on the field and off. You know.
Obviously she's still playing and being
one of the best players at at 41.
I know how I feel now.
36 and I'm like I don't get it
like I'm watching what you're
eating and I'm seeing and I'm
like doing the same things as you.
But I was, you know,
had that period where I was
away from the team a little bit.
So recovering from my injury.
It was after I kneeled so I wasn't
getting called into the games.
Was it also helpful to have?
Their chip on your shoulder?
I mean, you just casually mentioned
it once. Once I kneeled. And
yeah, I know I definitely had a huge chip.
You know, I always have it a little bit,
but it got like super sized for sure.
You know, especially feeling like I was.
Being left off the team for
reasons other than just my play.
Finally, when I was able to play,
I felt fresh again.
Physically, I think I was a different
person than I had ever been.
Well, we're sitting here drinking alcohol,
but I mean what did Sue teach you about
conditioning to hit this next level?
It was a lot in my diet.
I wasn't really eating bad, I was actually,
I think undereating a little bit
and kind of at the wrong time.
And I think with that kind of allowed
me to train harder and longer, they
just stop paying attention to
social media. At a certain point
for whatever reason, I don't do
a lot of looking in the comments.
I think you know the experience
of kneeling had a lot to do with
that and I think with the kneeling.
It became really clear.
Really quick, like I kind
of got the game immediately.
It was like the more outrage I got.
I was like, oh,
that's like I'm actually doing the
right thing and saying the right thing.
What I think is the right thing
and the social media is like
you can find whatever you want.
If you want to be told, you're amazing.
If you want to be told you're trash.
If you want sort of in the middle,
you can kind of find it.
If I'm doing something wrong, I'll know it.
My phone will ring.
At least it'll be my mom or my
sister or sue or someone like that.
The World Cup. The Twitter back
and forth with President Trump that
people compared your performance
in the World Cup to Muhammad Ali.
I know you've tried.
That's enough for me to
not make that comparison,
but in terms of the global stage
and and everything that's been
hits a whole nother level Nike,
you become a author.
Best selling author ESPN Body Issue,
Sports Illustrated swimsuit Issue,
Time magazine hosting,
the Espy's clothing line,
you're acting now,
the ballet and Dior's
best player in the world.
It all happens after 2019.
Trump
messed up man Trump messed up.
I feel like with Trump what?
Actually was happening.
Was he really wanted to be a fan
of the team and we're just like
the antithesis of who he is,
but he actually likes it because
we're really not really arrogant,
but, you know, kind of.
And we're like very confident,
so I feel like he was actually
like trying to be a fan.
But then he knew that he couldn't.
So then he had this like tantrum.
Mantram on Twitter
was that exhausting? At any level,
all those things I rattled off?
Not really. I kind of liked it,
kind of it kind of.
I mean the you know,
the maybe the travel in between
to all of those things but.
During the World Cup,
it was like this is what you work for.
You know, I thought it was
kind of like ridiculous too.
I think probably because I'm older.
This convergence of pop culture
and sport and equal pay lawsuit
and that was just weird.
It was like wild
and a perfect segue to talk about
the settlement. 24 million.
Pending the collective bargaining
agreement you had originally asked for
66 million in the class action suit,
or you as we sit here today,
are you happy with how that turned out?
I am happy with it.
Yeah, I think it's an extremely
difficult thing to do to get that many
people on board to do the same thing.
I think still, it's a massive
settlement and I think obviously
the best thing is going forward.
No player for the US and the
national team will ever have
to experience that again,
and they'll just be set up so much better.
There was very little criticism.
After this settlement,
with the exception of your former
reign and US women's national team
teammate Hope Solo said it was
heartbreaking that it wasn't a victory.
Yeah, it's unfortunate that
she feels that way about it.
I know she has her own suit going on,
and, you know, I hope she gets every
single penny that she wants out of it.
So you mentioned Sue.
I think people have described
the two of you as a power couple.
There was one.
There was only one other power couple
in Seattle and they've they're gone.
They're gone so. They're
gone and they gave us their house
that was so nice of you guys.
Thank you. Thank you for the
thank you Russell. That's great.
How about that that tidal power couple
so weird? Yeah, so weird.
We're really proud.
I think of the impact that we can
have obviously been a gay couple.
Being female athletes, both of us having
our particular standing in our sport.
It definitely, I think, elevates both of us.
And I think in turn elevates the
things that we're talking about.
But it's totally weird because we're
just like I'm just me and she's just her.
We don't really.
Maybe I should just tell her to call me
that or something like she has to call me.
You know, the half of the power couple
I I worry in a way for Seattle
because Sue is entering this year.
Whether it's the last year or
not you're entering this year.
You've talked about marriage plans.
I worry that Seattle doesn't realize
how much time they have left with you.
They should probably come to
every one of our games this year.
Yeah, it's you guys in there season tickets.
I think you'd never really appreciate
anything while you have it.
There definitely is a I think a deep
love and appreciation for what we do on
the field and what we do off the field.
They're gonna be sad when we leave though.
I mean, we're good personalities.
Yes, absolutely.
I mean, look at the sweater as wild.
Somebody's gonna have to
wear this sweater after me.
You know.
I mean, for you 2023 World Cup,
right around the corner.
Yeah, rain season. I mean,
have you even mentally processed
where you're going from here?
I definitely want to go for the
World Cup. Definitely want to go
for the World Cup next summer
and then politics marriage, who knows?
Yeah, I think the marriage
definitely after we're done playing.
I can't even imagine trying to plan.
Well, here's to a bright future.
Thank you and a good season ahead. Yeah,
we'll be seeing seeing you at the games.
Yes, you will. Thanks for sharing a drink.
Such a good drink. That's perfect.