Megan Rapinoe might have slipped through the headlines before, but now U.S. Soccer is knocking her for continuing to kneel during the national anthem.
Rapinoe knelt during the anthem again Thursday night, and this time she was wearing a U.S. Women’s National Team uniform, prompting U.S. Soccer to voice their frustration, Screamer noted.
During the game, U.S. Soccer released a statement against Rapinoe’s protest, referring to the national anthem as a time to “reflect upon the liberties and freedom we all appreciate in this country,” Screamer noted.
“Representing your country is a privilege and honor for any player or coach that is associated with U.S. Soccer’s National Teams. Therefore, our national anthem has particular significance for U.S. Soccer,” U.S. Soccer said in their statement. “As part of the privilege to represent your country, we have an expectation that our players and coaches will stand and honor our flag while the National Anthem is played.”
Rapinoe first knelt during the anthem earlier this month before an NWSL game between her Seattle Reign and the Chicago Red Stars, as a nod to NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who spearheaded this protest. Following that game, Rapinoe told ESPN, “Quite honestly, being gay, I have stood with my hand over my heart during the national anthem and felt like I haven’t had my liberties protected, so I can absolutely sympathize with that feeling.”
The jury is still out on whether or not U.S. Soccer plans to put their words into action against one of their biggest stars, Rapinoe, but it goes to show that Kaepernick has started something after acting to “call America’s attention to police brutality carried out against black citizens” by sitting for the national anthem in the NFL preseason.
Other professional athletes who have supported Kaepernick and joined the protest include Denver Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall, Marcus Peters of the Kansas City Chiefs, Martellus Bennett and Devin McCourty of the New England Patriots, and Antoine Bethea and Eli Harold of the San Francisco 49ers, Deadspin noted.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.