Exclusive: US Midfielder Megan Rapinoe Shines On and Off the Field

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Definitely, you all really stepped up and you have amazing chemistry on the field. Do you hang out off the field at all?

Yeah, I mean, we’re together so much. We’re in a hotel for three weeks together and then one week off. But we do get together. It’s nice to have that off the field relationship as well, and I think sometimes there’s only so much chemistry you can have on the field, but there are plenty of moments off the field where you go out. Just kind of experiencing life in general with each other is something I think that we’ve been able to do in the last few years.

Obviously Pia Sundhage will be missed with all she brought to the program. Was it an emotional good bye for you?

It was. I mean, I think it will set in when we go to camp and she’s not there. Since I’ve been a regular on the team she’s been the only coach. I think, also, it came at a pretty good time. I felt like she was ready to move on and I felt like we were needing a new direction, so in that sense it was kind of a clean break up so to speak. But we had a really special thing and a special environment going on.

What are your feelings about Tom Sermanni taking over coaching the team?

I’m really excited. I’ve heard a lot of good things about Tommy Sermanni. I think he’s done a really good job with Australia. I think he’s going to bring that same, kind of, relaxed atmosphere, and I think he’s a pretty easygoing guy. So, he’s going to keep that atmosphere but just bring in a fresh perspective, which I think we’re really looking forward to, which we really need.

This summer you came out publicly in Out Magazine. What has the feedback been since that article ran?

It’s really been all positive. I don’t really look into it too much or try to find anything negative. I’m sure there’s some negative feedback about it. But, honestly, it’s been really positive. I think, just looking back over the last six to eight months, I feel like things have really come together in a way that they haven’t come together for me before. And I don’t think it’s all because I came out. There are a lot of other factors, but I think that it’s such a positive thing to stand up and say this is who I am. I think I already created an image or a character that people knew, and I think that only added to it and will help break down these ridiculous barriers that we have.

Why was it important for you to come out publicly?

At the root of it all, it becomes a little bit like, “why am I not out?” Not the question of why did you come out, but why has it taken so long. I don’t think I ever lied about my personal life. I feel like I was pretty open, media included. But, kind of, little lies of omission I guess. I just felt like I needed to, and we live part of our lives in the public eye. We’re not like hardcore celebrities or anything, but I think we do live part of our lives in the public eye and I wanted my whole self to be seen. I feel like I’m a pretty open book and pretty open in terms of what I give to the public and I wanted that to be a part of it. Honestly, until people start coming out regularly then it’s gonna be more difficult for all of these barriers to be broken down, and hopefully we can get to the point where people don’t have to. I think that’s the goal and I think that’s where everybody wants it to go. But until that point, I think it is still important to come out.

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