Megan Rapinoe Shares Personal Loss on Podcast
Megan Rapinoe recently opened up about the death of her half-brother, Michael, who passed away due to alcoholism last year. This revelation came during her podcast, A Touch More, co-hosted with Abby Wambach and Sue Bird. Wambach and Rapinoe, having been teammates on the US Women’s National Soccer Team, shared a close connection, both on and off the field.
“I moved back home last year after Michael passed away,” Rapinoe shared. “He had a long battle with alcoholism… It was sad,” she noted, reflecting on the difficult circumstances surrounding his struggle.
Wambach empathized with Rapinoe’s loss, having recently experienced the death of her own brother, Peter G. Wambach Jr., who died in December 2023 from complications related to a heart attack at the age of 51.
In total, Rapinoe has five siblings, including an older brother, Brian, a fraternal twin sister named Rachel, a half-sister called Jenny, and another sister as well.
During the podcast, Rapinoe discussed the similarities she sees between herself and her late brother. “I notice obsessions and compulsions and addictions in both of us,” she said, contemplating her own reflections after spending time at home. “I couldn’t help but think, ‘Wow, I can’t remember the last time I was home for this long. It wasn’t for a vacation or a wedding.’”
This marked the first time she has publicly talked about Michael’s passing, though she has shared her thoughts on her brother Brian’s previous struggles with addiction in the past. In her memoir, *One Life*, Rapinoe recounted the moment her parents informed her of Brian’s arrest for methamphetamine possession, which led to his detention.
She expressed heartache over Brian’s tumultuous journey, revealing that he was imprisoned at age 18 for stealing a car and subsequently faced challenges that led him in and out of prison over two decades.
After a notable victory with the USWNT at the World Cup, Rapinoe took a moment to honor Brian: “Just one thing: Happy birthday Brian. I love you so much,” she said, blowing a kiss to the camera.
