United States women’s national team veteran Megan Rapinoe acknowledged she was “emotionally exhausted” following the findings of Sally Yates’ report into systemic abuse in the National Women’s Soccer League but said it was nothing new to her or her teammates.
The independent investigation released on Monday revealed player abuse within the NWSL was widespread and that league officials and governing U.S. Soccer failed to adequately protect players.
It is far from the first time, however, that the team has been thrust into the spotlight for issues away from the action on the field.
“Like I said as sick as this sounds, I feel like we’re used to having to take on so much more than game-plan and tactics,” Rapinoe said Thursday ahead of the USWNT’s high-profile friendly against England at London’s Wembley Stadium.
“I feel like we have an incredible ability to shoulder so much.”
Notably, before and after their 2019 World Cup triumph, the team was locked in a battle with U.S. Soccer over securing equal pay.
“We’ve had to shoulder a lot on this team,” she added. “I think we have a lot of experience, particularly with the older group, whether it was the lawsuit or equal pay, or kneeling or whatever it may be.
“I think we have a bit of experience in that and that older players can help shield and shoulder a lot of whether it’s media attention or just kind of like, what we do, how to act.”
