Recently retired USWNT star Megan Rapinoe has not only been an icon throughout her career as a soccer player. But also as an advocate for LGBTQ rights. But unfortunately, another member of the current USWNT is not nearly as accepting of the LGBTQ community, which has landed her in some hot water amongst fans.
Korbin Albert, a 20-year-old right winger for the USWNT, has made it a point to repost a number of anti-LGBTQ content on her TikTok account.
One repost in particular was quite jarring, suggesting that “feeling transgender is “gross, insulting, and unacceptable”.
A USWNT player that reposts videos about God “saving” people from being gay and “feeling transgender” is just gross, insulting and unacceptable. Not after the team and also have worked so hard to become a safe place for queer players and fans. https://t.co/FTwW1xjve4 pic.twitter.com/aXVwD2bhT0
— that’s the tea (@tonaliana) March 28, 2024
This has led to Albert receiving a ton of criticism on social media. Especially because she dawns the same jersey number, No. 15, as Rapinoe did throughout her career.
Naturally, Rapinoe took notice of all this talk about Albert’s TikTok posts, taking to Instagram to offer her input on the matter.
“For people who want to hide behind ‘my beliefs’, I would just ask one question. Are you making any type of space safer, more inclusive, more whole, any semblance of better, bringing the best out of anyone? Because if you aren’t, all you believe in is hate. And kids are literally killing themselves because of this hate. Wake tf up!”
Megan Rapinoe. Inspiration and icon always.
In light of some horrible views shared by a newer member of the USWNT, Korbin Albert, on their tiktok reposting videos about people needing to “be saved from being gay or transgender.”
The People's #15 responds ❤️ pic.twitter.com/uXGHtmtn7J
— Joe Louis Monte (@Jolomoco) March 28, 2024
Rapinoe didn’t call out Albert by name. But it seems to be quite clear that this statement is about her rather intolerant views.
It’s completely fair for Rapinoe to feel this way considering all she has done to support inclusivity within sports in general, much less women’s sports.
As for Albert, there will likely be even more public backlash for her to face as more and more public figures within sports catch wind of her TikTok page.
About Reice Shipley
Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.