Former United States women’s national team goalie Hope Solo is making some strong allegations against former teammate Megan Rapinoe.
Solo, the national team’s goalie from 2000-16, said that she witnessed Rapinoe “almost bullying” her teammates into kneeling for the national anthem. It was back in 2016 when Rapinoe started kneeling in solidarity with Colin Kaepernick, who began doing it against racial injustices and social inequalities.
Solo told Goal that Rapinoe pushed strongly for her teammates to follow her lead.
“I think the kneeling thing can be very divisive. I’ve seen Megan Rapinoe almost bully players into kneeling because she really wants to stand up for something in her particular way.”
“But it’s our right as Americans to do it whatever way we’re comfortable with, and I think that’s really hard being on the main stage right now with so many political issues for athletes. There’s a lot of pressure, and ultimately, at the end of the day, our number one focus should and has always been to win first.”
Solo last played for the United States women’s national team in 2016.
“For players that are standing I would say, continue to educate yourself,” Rapinoe previously told Goal. “Continue to educate yourself on the racial history in the country and continue to challenge yourself on why you’re standing, and why you’re putting maybe your personal beliefs over something like this that is so pressing to so many people.”
Rapinoe was named one of Time Magazine’s most influential people last year.
