Megan Rapinoe, Sue Bird announce split after nearly a decade together

World CupMegan Rapinoe, Sue Bird announce split after nearly a decade togetherThe soccer and basketball legends shared news of their separation and an end to their joint podcast in a social media post.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird in Paris in 2024.Damien Meyer / AFP via Getty Images fileShareAdd NBC News to GoogleApril 17, 2026, 5:30 PM EDTBy Kayla HayempourMegan Rapinoe and Sue Bird — two legendary sports stars who were in a relationship for nearly 10 years — announced their separation Friday in a statement on social media.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.“This hasn’t been an easy decision, but it’s one we’ve made together, with so much love, respect, and care for each other,” the Olympic gold medalists wrote in an Instagram post. “We’ve shared a whole life over the last decade, through big moments and in quiet ones, and that is something we’ll always carry with us.”The pair also announced they will end their podcast, “A Touch More,” which relaunched in 2024 to focus on women’s sports and its intersection with politics, equality and inclusion.“While this chapter of doing the podcast together is ending, what we’ve built with you isn’t,” the statement read. In a video, Rapinoe and Bird said they would separately host six episodes as a “farewell” to fans.The retired duo began dating in 2016 and went public with their relationship the following year before getting engaged in 2020.Both athletes are considered icons in their respective sports and are fierce advocates for social issues, including equal pay, transgender rights and racial justice.Rapinoe, 40, is a two-time World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist with the U.S. women’s national soccer team. Bird, 45, is a 13-time WNBA All-Star, four-time WNBA champion with the Seattle Storm and five-time Olympic gold medalist.ShareAdd NBC News to GoogleKayla HayempourPlatforms editor for NBC News