American soccer star Megan Rapinoe has stirred up quite the storm on Twitter by hailing former WNBA star Sue Bird for having the “best career in any sport ever”. Sports fans were up in arms at this statement, throwing a multitude of names of athletes with apparently better careers at Rapinoe. And when it comes to athletes with arguably the best careers ever, Serena Williams is always going to be a prominent name that crops up.
Seattle Storm, the WNBA team that Sue Bird played for, retired her number 10 jersey as a tribute to her amazingly long and decorated career. Bird’s fiancé and soccer star Megan Rapinoe, who was one half of the emcees with the other being Macklemore, made a statement that she probably did not expect to kick up such a storm.
What about Serena Williams?
Sue Bird has had quite the career, one certainly worthy of catapulting her up on the list of some of the best sporting careers of all time. And when she is your fiancé, you’re not going to have eyes for anyone else are you? Naturally, Rapinoe was not going to be really thinking about Serena Williams during such an emotional event that was celebrating her partner in life. However, rather than giving her a pass for the same, many took to Twitter to voice their indignation at her suggestion.
“Congratulations on like, arguably the best career that anyone has ever had in the history of any sport ever.”
Many of these protestors had Williams on their list and they weren’t shying away from hammering that at Rapinoe.
I like Sue. She’s solid. But let’s not exaggerate. She’s not the best to do it at any sport.
Here’s a few women just off the top of my head with a better career than her.
Serena Williams in Tennis.
Lindsay Vonn in skiing.
Annika Sorenstam in golf.— Sudoku (@Sudoku314) June 12, 2023
She’s not even the best female anything 😭😭 Serena Williams and Simone Biles must be accountants then https://t.co/6ubeaGuoeI
— سليمان (@_sgimba) June 12, 2023
And if they wanna throw women names in the hat, there’s Serena Williams who has had an actual incredible sports career unlike Sue Bird lol
— Vados 👑 (@catnarco) June 12, 2023
Serena Williams would like a word
Also what was that laugh at 0:11
— Tandyman☘️❇️ (@Tandyman0) June 12, 2023
She’s not even the best female athlete ever. Ever heard of Serena Williams?? My goodness. https://t.co/nuIW13GbsG
— Thomas Phillips (@TPH1LLY) June 12, 2023
Now show Serena Williams shit. Serena really the goat of men’s and women’s sports. https://t.co/l17oAwFTj5
— Mar Mar La Flare (@mar_2Times) June 12, 2023
Literally never averaged more the 15ppg, seriously….Serena Williams laughs at her
— The Daviest Dave ✌️🤙 (@DaviestDave) June 12, 2023
this kind of stuff is totally counterproductive to the fight for gender equality in sports . Sue Bird is nowhere close to the greatest athlete in any sport ever. Not even remotely. Now a bunch of brodudes are going to make fun of this and again we get further away from the goal https://t.co/az8Tyglxfd
— simple jake (@jakebeleafs) June 12, 2023
??? Serena Williams? Michael Phelps? Muhammad Ali? Billie Jean King? Jim Thorpe? Michael Jordan? Simone Biles? Jim Brown? Jesse Owens? Wilt Chamberlain? Flo Jo? Bo Jackson? … and those are just the Americans…come on now.
— WillCruz (@WillCruz) June 12, 2023
Lebron, Tom Brady, MJ. Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt and Serena Williams are all dead I guess.
— Matthew Murphy (@Matthew_M81) June 12, 2023
Funniest thing about what Megan Rapinoe said is that Sue Bird ain’t even the best in her own sport. Diana Taurasi is better, and she has one less championship and 3 less all star selections, for some reason. There ain’t a season where Bird was better than her. pic.twitter.com/B1n9t6HcXs
— Weslan Lannuier (@WLannuier) June 12, 2023
While there was an overwhelming tide of posts ridiculing Megan Rapinoe, there were those who pointed out the fact that when it comes down to it, it’s a person heaping praise on their life partner.
People are mad about Megan Rapinoe saying something nice about her wife?
— Sean Connor (@sean___connor) June 12, 2023
Megan Rapinoe just dropped a hot take and Twitter can’t handle it! Sue Bird’s legendary career speaks for itself, and those dragging Rapinoe must not know their sports history. See my bio bro
— 🌭J S🌭 (@JS6534667853087) June 12, 2023
Yall acting like you’ve never gassed up your significant other before. If you want to have a gripe, ask why Megan Rapinoe is the one giving a speech here….her fiancée… https://t.co/Z7qID0QDYO
— Ser Dweeb (@Flawed_Ambition) June 12, 2023
Why are people so offended by what Megan Rapinoe said about Sue Bird? Yall don’t want yalls significant others speaking extremely highly of you too?
— kiskadee (@trinimini05) June 12, 2023
Taken at face value, Rapinoe’s comment is certainly bordering on mind-boggling; however, take into account the relationship between the two and you can understand why she would say it.
While Bird has definitely had a wonderful career that warrants retiring her jersey, there are athletes who would eclipse Bird’s achievements. Serena Williams would certainly be one of those who has scaled greater heights than Bird.
But leave it to Twitter to make a mountain out of a molehill. Rapinoe is no stranger to controversial statements that divide the people but this time around the hate is certainly a little unfair if you take into consideration all the context.
