Just days after U.S. Soccer passed its new policy requiring players to stand for the national anthem, dropped USWNT star Megan Rapinoe responded.
You might remember, this all has come about because Rapinoe decided to follow in Colin Kapernick’s footsteps and kneel during the national anthem both for club and country. Per a statement to the Associated Press, she said she will respect the the policy.
“It is an honor to represent the USA and all that we stand for — to be able to pull on the red, white and blue to play a game that I love. I will respect the new bylaw the leadership at USSF has put forward. That said, I believe we should always value the use of our voice and platform to fight for equality of every kind,” Rapinoe said.
The talented player has not been on the USWNT since the kneeling display. She was not on the roster for the SheBelieves Cup, which the USWNT will finish playing on Tuesday evening.
Also agreeing with the policy are national team coaches Bruce Arena and Jill Ellis, per SI.
As for Rapinoe, for someone who has strongly been for kneeling as a way of protest, it is a bit of a surprise to see her oblige.
Perhaps she doesn’t want to hurt her chances of rejoining the national team at some point, and from that stance, accepting it makes a lot of sense.
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