Sue Bird Reflects on Her Breakup with Megan Rapinoe After a Decade Together

Sue Bird is discussing what led to the end of her relationship with Megan Rapinoe.

The pair spent 10 years together before announcing their separation in April through a joint statement. Bird, 45, sat down with Women's Health for an interview that dropped Tuesday, June 9, where she opened up about her current state of mind.

"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 explained. She noted that the breakup was unexpected given that she and Rapinoe, 40, had "planned on being together forever."

The two initially connected at the 2016 Rio Olympics. They became engaged in October 2020 and were known for their openness about their relationship throughout their time together.

While their romantic partnership has ended, Bird emphasized that she and Rapinoe have maintained a positive connection. "We're on great terms," she said, adding there is no "bad blood" between them.

The couple regularly participated in couples therapy, which they discussed openly on their joint podcast, A Touch More. Bird credits that experience with helping her navigate the breakup more smoothly. "It's made it a lot more, for me, easier and calmer," she reflected. "Otherwise, sometimes it can feel like you're set in stone on something, and that can bring an anxiety, but it hasn't felt like that."

In conjunction with their April breakup announcement, Bird and Rapinoe revealed they would be discontinuing their podcast. The show's final episode aired on May 28.