Former US soccer star Hope Solo said Megan Rapinoe would 'bully players into kneeling' for the national anthem

• Former USWNT keeper Hope Solo said Megan Rapinoe would "bully players into kneeling" for the anthem.
• Solo told Goal that her ex-teammate "really wants to stand up for something in her particular way."
• Rapinoe began kneeling in September 2016, one month after Solo was booted from the USWNT.

US Women's National Team superstar Megan Rapinoe was one of the first professional athletes to join former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick in kneeling during the national anthem.

Now, one of her ex-teammates is speaking out about how "the kneeling thing can be very divisive."

Former USWNT goalkeeper Hope Solo told Goal that Rapinoe would "bully players into kneeling" for the anthem.

"She really wants to stand up for something in her particular way," Solo added of the pink-haired striker.

The standout netminder played alongside Rapinoe for a decade on the national team, and the pair were teammates for National Women's Soccer League club Seattle Reign FC for three years. Still, Solo was never on a roster with Rapinoe when she was kneeling for the anthem.

Solo was kicked off the national team after the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. She caused a controversy by calling Sweden's players "a bunch of cowards" following their upset of the USWNT in penalty kicks in the quarterfinal match. The comments resulted in a six-month suspension for Solo and the termination of her national team contract. She subsequently took a "personal leave" from her club and never returned to professional soccer.

Rapinoe knelt during the national anthem for the first time ahead of a Reign match on Sept 4, 2016. A little over a week later, she carried on the protest at a USWNT game. Solo had already been suspended ahead of both instances.

Still, the long-retired keeper felt inclined to weigh in on the current state of affairs with the national team.

"I think the rhetoric surrounding this team has been both divisive and inclusive," Solo said. "I guess it's kind of where we are in politics in this day and age."

"That's really hard being on the main stage right now with so many political issues for athletes," she added. "There's a lot of pressure."