The players embarked on a media tour around New York in preparation for their celebratory parade Wednesday that will follow the famed ticker tape parade line.
On Tuesday, the team stopped by “Good Morning America” and later Megan Rapinoe had one-on-one appearances on a number of shows. She joined Anderson Cooper on CNN and talked for 30 minutes about a wide range of topics.
In the final moments of the interview, Rapinoe looked directly at the camera to address President Donald Trump.
Five key quotes from Rapinoe’s CNN appearance
Rapnioe gives the story behind her now famous goal celebration
“I don’t know where it came from. I made it up. I actually did it in one game prior to leaving for the World Cup and I hadn’t brought it out for a while and I usually change things up a lot. We always talk about — obviously the celebrations became a thing as well. I don’t know where it came from and I felt the team had so much pressure on it and obviously, individually we each have that pressure, but more so as a team it was just like this moment. It wasn’t an “F” you moment at all. It was a moment for everyone to celebrate through that, like, you’re not gonna take our job from anything.
“It was just … We have arrived.”
Rapinoe on her initial thoughts as the USWNT heard ‘Equal Pay’ chants after their World Cup victory
“We were all getting ready to celebrate, just won the World Cup again and we’re like, ‘Wait a second. Is that really happening?’ …
“I think we knew that this win, if we were able to win, was gonna be bigger than soccer but that moment just solidified everything. This World Cup win is so much more than what was on the field. It seems like one of those sort of iconic turning points in history, to be honest. That kind of cemented that and kicked off that feeling of ‘Wow this is so much bigger than just these people coming here to watch this game.’”
Rapinoe reacts to coach Jill Ellis’ comments saying she was ‘built for this’
“I think my personality just lends to this and it’s this incredible coming together of the, obviously, the on-field play, the activism and just the personality that I have. I don’t know what my parents were doing when they were raising me but they were like, ‘Oh my God, what happened? This is crazy.’
“My mom’s like, ‘Why do you always have to take it all on?’ And I don’t know. It just feels normal and natural to me.”
Rapinoe talks about coming out, the moment she realized she was gay and how it changed her world view
“It wasn’t difficult for me in the moment. I didn’t realize it until I got to college. …
“It’s so embarrassing because I’m very gay but I don’t know how it happened but as soon as it clicked, I was like, ah, … she is here, her life is beginning. …
“I think that it’s shaped my entire world view. My twin sister actually is gay, as well, and she actually had a very difficult time coming to terms with it herself and obviously a lot of friends that I know, I know how much struggle there is. In my own life, I feel like I’m not effected by homophobia that much because I’m like whatever, but it’s there. I feel it as part of my every day life and having that perspective of not being exactly like every one else just gives you that boost of empathy and I’m so thankful for that. I don’t know what it would be like if I didn’t have that but I feel like it puts me in this position to trust and understand and believe people that they’re going through whatever they say they’re going through.”
Rapinoe directly addresses President Trump
“Your message is excluding people. You’re excluding me. You’re excluding people that look like me. You’re excluding people of color. You’re excluding Americans that maybe support you. I think that we need to have a reckoning with the message that you have and what you’re saying about, ‘Make America Great Again.’
“I think you’re harking back to an era that was not great for everyone. It might have been great for a few people and maybe America is great for a few people right now but it’s not great for enough Americans in this world and I think that we have a responsibility, each and every one of us, you have an incredible responsibility as the chief of this country to take care of every single person and you need to do better for everyone.”
