Partners can be competitive. Not cutthroat competitive but rather in a hilarious way. And such is the case, especially when both are high-level performers. Ex-WNBA star Sue Bird’s engagement with Megan Rapinoe smells to be made up of competitive spirits where both are trying to outdo each other. In a recent incident, Bird shed light on how an observation by her niece left her “burning.”

Bird was present alongside Rapinoe at the Sports Beach 2024 in Cannes when she revealed an incident from her past that left her fuming comically. The video of the same was posted on the A Touch More YouTube channel on Monday, and that had all the fans enjoying a lighthearted moment of Bird and Rapinoe’s relationship.

“My niece, who at the time was probably six, was visiting us in Seattle. And she came to one of my games, and I scored one basket—two points, but one basket. It wasn’t my best, and then she went to Megan’s game. And Megan, that day, had two goals. And so, when we got back, she was like, “You know, Aunt Sue, Megan had more points than you today.” I was like, “My baskets are worth two. We tied,”” Bird divulged.

Rapinoe asked why his relatives “burned” her like that in a humorous context. Bird accepted the same with a pinch of salt, enunciating, “I was pissed. I couldn’t show it.” For the uninitiated, Bird was selected by the Seattle Storm as the first overall pick in 2002. She spent her entire WNBA career of 20 years with the Storm, retiring in 2022.

Hence, Seattle was the home arena for Bird. Therefore, her niece might have visited Bird in the city when she could only hit 2 points. Thereafter, as told by Bird, she drew comparisons with Rapinoe, who had scored two goals that day. Such competition and jocularity look to have kept Bird and Rapinoe’s relationship alive.

Bird came out publicly in 2017 after she met Rapinoe at the Rio Olympics in 2016. Bird then revealed that she was dating the soccer star and took her relationship to the next level by getting engaged in October 2020. Since then, the duo has been spotted together at media chat shows. Their relationship was such a buzz in the industry that the duo became the first same-sex couple to be featured in ESPN’s The Magazine‘s Body Issue. The two have actively voiced their opinions about supporting marginalized individuals.

Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe have contributed to the community

Bird and Rapinoe initiated adapting the LGBTQ romance novel Cleat Cute into a series. The two associated their production house, A Touch More, with the series. Furthermore, the duo, as per The Wrap, will also produce a docuseries based on the lives of top female athletes, delving into their relationships, family members, life inside and outside their sport, and fan engagements.

Thus, both look to have extended their hands to advancing women’s sports as well as supporting other athletes who want to come out. As for their union, Bird has previously dropped hints about their wedding, but it remains to be seen when the event will take place.

It is memories like these that keep the relationship alive. And hopefully, for fans, the duo will keep sharing such more moments in the future. Perhaps her niece would have gotten the opportunity to praise Bird for her performances after that.

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the infamous Shaq-Kobe feud, Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub, and more, watch this video.