Women’s sports fans everywhere are mourning the relationship of WNBA legend Sue Bird and soccer star Megan Rapinoe.
The power couple announced the shocking news in a joint Instagram statement on April 17, revealing their decision to separate after a decade-long romance. “There really is no smooth or easy way to share this news,” Rapinoe and Bird wrote. “After a lot of thought, we’ve made the decision to separate as a couple.”
The retired athletes—who met before the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and got engaged in October 2020—did not share the reason for their split but described it as a mutual decision made with “so much love, respect, and care for each other.” The statement continued, “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.”
Rapinoe and Bird will likely have more to say in the coming weeks, especially as the exes release the final episodes of their podcast, A Touch More. Here’s a timeline of Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird’s breakup, as well as a brief look back at some of their most memorable moments as a couple.
April 17, 2026: Bird and Rapino announce their split, as well as the end of their A Touch More podcast. “We are so grateful to this incredible community that has held us up, welcomed us in, and supported us exactly as we are,” they wrote to fans in their breakup statement. “So many of you have reminded us, again and again, why loving out loud matters.”
The statement continued, “Getting to create A Touch More: The Podcast and build a network around it has been a tremendous joy. The conversations, the laughter, the connection—it means more than we can put into words. While this chapter of doing the podcast together is ending, what we’ve built with you isn’t.”
The pair also spoke about the end of their podcast in a brief, three-minute YouTube video titled “A Personal Update.” According to the pair, they will be switching off hosting the final six special episodes, which typically drop on Wednesdays.
“We’re going to do a little trade-off hosting six more special episodes of A Touch More that’ll be our farewell to you all and to this space,” Bird said, noting she’ll still be hosting a second season of the Bird’s Eye View podcast. Meanwhile, Rapinoe said, she’ll be “following in Sue’s footsteps” by launching her own show this summer.
