The new documentary, Sue Bird: In the Clutch, takes a closer look at the life and career of the legendary retired basketball player, Sue Bird. Interestingly, the focus of this project is on the final years of her illustrious 19-year-long career.
Sue Bird, who is a lesbian, is currently engaged to the former American Soccer player, Megan Rapinoe. Reports suggest the couple got engaged in October 2020, however, they are not in a hurry to get married. In December 2020, Bird spoke to People Magazine, where she explained that they both knew that their relationship was permanent, and there was no point in rushing into a wedding. She stated, “It’s been great to be engaged but we actually haven’t planned or talked about much of anything.”
Bird further explained how they were waiting for the COVID pandemic to end so that they could think about their future in a stress-free environment. She said, “I think the one thing we do agree on is that we would love to have our wedding once things have settled down in terms of COVID. Because we want to have a stress-free environment where we are not having to worry about testing and this and that, which is kind of the life of that we are living now.”
Born on October 16, 1980, Sue Bird is currently 43, while Megan Rapinoe, who was born on July 5, 1985, is 38. According to Rotten Tomatoes, the synopsis of Sue Bird: In the Clutch reads, “In her 21-year professional career, WNBA basketball legend Sue Bird has won five Olympic gold medals, becoming the most successful point guard to ever play the game. Alongside her fiancee, U.S. soccer star Megan Rapinoe, Sue confronts her next challenge, retiring from the only life she’s ever known.”
When did Sue Bird publicly come out as a lesbian?
According to Bleacher Report, Sue Bird publically came out as a lesbian in July 2017. An article from Mechelle Voepel of ESPNW stated that Bird also revealed her relationship with Megan Rapinoe.
Bird said, “I’m gay. Megan’s my girlfriend. … These aren’t secrets to people who know me. I don’t feel like I’ve not lived my life. I think people have this assumption that if you’re not talking about it, you must be hiding it, like it’s this secret. That was never the case for me.”
Bird furthermore explained why it was the right time for her to come out. She believed that the moment simply felt right, “It’s happening when it’s happening because that’s what feels right. 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.”
In the same conversation with Voepel, the basketball star stated that she was aware of her sexuality during her college days. She said, “Of course, I have a whole journey—everybody does in life,” she said. “I think the hard part is being public about it. I don’t like to be, not necessarily ‘gossiped’ about but the topic of conversations.”
Unlike Sue Bird, her partner, Megan Rapinoe, has been vocal about LGBTQ rights and racial issues. In addition, the latter once kneeled in solidarity and support of a former football quarterback.
When did Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe meet for the first time?
According to People Magazine, Sue Bird met Megan Rapinoe at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Rapinoe recalled their first meeting by stating that Bird was wearing a basketball uniform and had her hair untied. She said, “She was in her basketball uniform and she had her hair down. We kinda crossed and she was like, ‘Oh, hey! Ready for your game?’ ” Bird chimed in, “I was like, ‘ha-ha … funny.'”
Rapinoe further explained that even though her first impression of Bird was “bad”, the latter still got attracted to her. In an October 2019 conversation with People Magazine, the soccer player stated that the couple shared a special relationship. She even added that they were huge fans of each other. Rapinoe said, “We are huge fans of each other. I have become, like, a Seattle Storm number one superfan, of course. I think it is just the understanding of what we have to go through and the appreciation of, you know, each other’s skills and lives is really special.
She continued, “And in the same sense, we are just normal to each other. Which is really nice. Like, neither of us are like, ‘Oh, wow you are the best person that has ever played basketball.’ Which she is!”
Sue Bird retired from professional basketball after the 2022 WNBA season, while Megan Rapinoe hung her boots in 2023.
