Rapinoe Advocates for Trans Inclusion in Women’s Sports

Former U.S. women’s soccer player Megan Rapinoe is speaking out again on the inclusion of men in women’s sports, suggesting there isn’t really a level playing field in sports to begin with, so why bother keeping men off women’s teams?

In a recent appearance on W. Kamau Bell’s podcast, Who’s With Me?, Rapinoe argued that there’s nothing inherently unfair about allowing men who identify as women to compete in women’s sports.

During the episode, Bell complimented Rapinoe for her support of trans individuals and brought up the narrative surrounding trans women’s impact on sports.

“I am appalled,” Rapinoe responded. She expressed concern about the lack of empathy and humanity from others, pointing out the fear and hate directed at trans individuals, and noted that athletes have been largely silent on the issue.

Bell pressed her about any fears she might have regarding the potential impact of men on women’s sports, using the comparison of a scenario where a male athlete like LeBron James suddenly declares himself a woman and joins the WNBA.

“That scenario isn’t going to happen,” she asserted. “Trans individuals face so many challenges to even participate in sports; you can’t just wake up one day and decide to be a woman and start playing.”

Rapinoe explained her reasoning, stating that sports aren’t truly fair to begin with, so what’s the harm in letting men join a women’s team?

“Honestly,” she said, “who decides what’s fair? Sports have never really been about fairness.”

“I mean, it’s not intended to be fair,” Bell agreed.

“Exactly. What does fair even mean?” Rapinoe countered, pointing to standout athletes like 7-foot-4 center Victor Wembanyama as an example of inherent unfairness in sports.

She continued, indicating that the notion of fairness pales in comparison to fundamental human rights, emphasizing that her own success across various competitions makes her more open to trans individuals participating in sports. “I’m okay if a trans athlete competes, even if they excel,” Rapinoe added.

Expressing enthusiasm for future developments, she remarked, “I can’t wait to see an elite trans athlete in professional women’s sports.”

Interestingly, Rapinoe’s advocacy for trans athletes has surfaced only after her professional sports career ended, leading some to note that she didn’t vocalize support for trans players until her final years in the sport—time when she wouldn’t personally face competition from a trans athlete.