Four-time WNBA champion Sue Bird has provided some comments about the end of her highly-publicized relationship with former USWNT player Megan Rapinoe.
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The Hall of Famer spoke to Women's Health about multiple topics for an in-depth piece, including her move from the court to many different business pursuits. This includes interviewing other high-profile figures on her podcast, Bird's Eye View.
It was during this in-depth interview that she revealed the end of her relationship with Rapinoe. Bird told the outlet that this dissolving of the relationship was not abrupt and that they had no bad blood.
"It's like anything. It's like, you grow, you change, you start having conversations about that in your relationship, and it just got to a point where we realized it might not be working anymore," Bird told Women's Health.
But while this became a planned end, it doesn't mean that she and Rapinoe wanted to stop being partners. After all, Bird told the outlet that they had planned on being together forever.
Life changes happen, so now she just has to move forward with her life. She has to "stop hiding," as she puts it while focusing on her podcast and her analyst job with NBC Sports.
"There's no way I am who I am without being with Megan," Bird said. "But now that it's over, I get to take this kind of, like, newish, grown-ish, healed-ish version of myself and be out in the world again. It's exciting, it's scary, it's all of it."
Bird and Rapinoe first broke the news in April with a joint statement on social media. They confirmed that they had broken off their engagement and ended their relationship after 10 years.
They also announced the upcoming end of their joint podcast, A Touch More: The Podcast. Though they confirmed that they would film half a dozen more episodes instead of just abruptly shutting the show down.
"There really is no smooth or easy way to share this news," Rapinoe and Bird said in April. "After a lot of thought, we've made the decision to separate as a couple.
"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. 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.
"We are so grateful to this incredible community that has held us up, welcomed us in, and supported us exactly as we are. So many of you have reminded us, again and again, why loving out loud matters.
"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.
"Thank you for being with us through all of it...it means the world to us."
