Rapinoe has been a vocal social advocate for years, and disagrees with separating sports and politicsGETTY IMAGES
USWNT F Megan Rapinoe said she does not believe sports "should be a nonpolitical oasis," adding she does not "understand that argument at all," according to a profile by David Marchese of the N.Y. TIMES MAGAZINE. Rapinoe: "You want us to be role models for your kids. You want us to endorse your products. You parade us around. It’s like, we’re not just here to sit in the glass case for you to look at. That’s not how this is going to go. Yeah, I don’t (expletive) with that concept at all." On sustaining progress in women's soccer, Rapinoe said, "We need to be a lot stronger. We are so much more organized now as a players’ association to fight the federation. ... If we get to the next round of collective bargaining agreement negotiations, which I think is in two years, and we’re not getting what we want, then we’re going to need to take more serious action than we’ve taken before and not settle for crap." Rapinoe said in the past, women's soccer players have "settled for less than we’re worth," adding, "We have a membership that we have to look after." On the NWSL's business structure, Rapinoe said, "The problem with the ownership groups is that they’re run by millionaires. Which is great for your normal life, but you can’t be just a millionaire and run a team properly" (N.Y. TIMES MAGAZINE, 8/4 issue).
