WNBA legendSue Bird critiqued a federal judge's controversial decision to throw out the US Women's National Team'sequal pay lawsuit against the USSoccer Federation.- Bird — who is in a long-term relationship with
USWNT superstarMegan Rapinoe — called Judge R. Gary Klausner's opinions "bulls---" in an interview for Uninterrupted. - The four-time Olympic gold medalist said Klausner's decisions "are just opinions" and "they weren't based on precedent."
- Although Bird conceded that the case's dismissal is "a little bit of a step back," she thinks the decision is actually "going to rally people."
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Sue Bird didn't hold back when asked about the latest happenings in the US Women's National Team's highly-publicized equal pay lawsuit.
In a surprise ruling Friday evening, Federal Judge R. Gary Klausner threw out the Equal Pay Act component of the team's case against the US Soccer Federation.
And Bird thinks it's "bulls---."
The WNBA legend — who is in a long-term relationship with USWNT superstar Megan Rapinoe — spoke about what the decision means in the grand landscape of women's
"If you actually really look at it and you read what this judge said, I think you'll understand that it literally is bulls---, some of his opinions, because they're just opinions," Bird said. "They weren't based on precedent."
"I think if you're someone who actually looks, it's just gonna make you... even more angry than you were before," she added.
Though the four-time Olympic gold medalist conceded that Klausner's dismissal of the bulk of the USWNT's lawsuit is "a little bit of a step back," she remains optimistic that the decision will help bolster the team's case in the court of public opinion.
"Sadly, sometimes you do have to take a step or two backwards in order to move forwards," Bird said. "There's going to be some people that are like 'Well the judge said this,' but I actually think it's going to rally people."
Bird also echoed the sentiments of Rapinoe and her fellow USWNT star Alex Morgan from a Monday-morning appearance on Good Morning America. As two of the most recognizable faces on the national team, Rapinoe and Morgan expressed their "shock" and disappointment at Friday's ruling but vowed to continue fighting for the cause that has struck a chord with so many across the country.
"I obviously have some insider information just because I was with Megan [Rapinoe] when she got the actual call saying that this judge had made this judgement and just [saw] the look on her face," Bird said. "But also getting to hear her with her teammates and their lawyers talk about some stuff — obviously there is going to be more to come."
Check out the clip from Uninterrupted below:
— (@buesird) May 5, 2020
- Read more:
- A judge threw out the USWNT's equal pay lawsuit against US Soccer — here's why
- Megan Rapinoe said the judge 'missed the point' when he threw out the USWNT's equal pay lawsuit
- The US Men's National Team players say they 'understand and support' the USWNT's decision to appeal controversial equal pay lawsuit dismissal
- Joe Biden joked that he'd love to have USWNT star Megan Rapinoe as his VP, but that she'd 'have to take a pay cut' to take the job