Pablo Torre Finds Out – "Share & Strap-On & Tell" with Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe

Podcast: Pablo Torre Finds Out
Host: Pablo Torre (The Athletic)
Guests: Sue Bird, Megan Rapinoe
Date: October 16, 2025

Episode Overview

This vibrant episode dives beyond the surface of sports celebrity into the world of accolades, retirements, and the complex business and cultural realities of women’s sports, with two of the most decorated and outspoken athletes in America—Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe. It’s a mix of celebration, tongue-in-cheek humor, behind-the-scenes storytelling, and sharp, passionate insight into ongoing labor negotiations and women’s sports business. The episode features personal stories, banter, and a candid look at the high-profile “Stud Buds” viral moment.

Main Themes & Segments

1. Catching Up: Life After Sports (02:07–04:54)

• Podcast Life & Podcaster Identity: Pablo, Sue, and Megan joke about their retirement media careers, Sue’s cardigans, and the reluctance to be called 'media people'.
• Quote:
  “I actually refuse to be called media. I don't like it.” – Sue Bird (02:32)
• Retirement schedules: The challenge and oddity of a retirement year spent traveling for statue unveilings, street namings, and celebrations in various cities.

2. A Year of Honoring Sue Bird (04:54–08:59)

• Statues, Streets, and Ceremonies
  • Seattle’s first WNBA player statue, “Sue Bird Court,” and celebratory parties curated by Megan.
  • The emotional intensity and odd mix of “wedding and funeral” vibes at retirement ceremonies.
• Quote:
  “A lot of these, like, retirement type moments do feel like it's like a wedding and a funeral in one.” – Sue Bird (07:57)
• Private moments with fans, funny behind-the-scenes logistics (custom cocktail names, DJ sets), and the challenge of lengthy speeches.

3. The Statues Saga: Butter Sue to Bronze Sue (10:01–16:02)

• Statue Mishaps and Triumphs
  • Megan’s handmade “Butter Sue” bust revealed live at a show (hilarious failure, but fan keeps it).
  • Discussion of bad statues in sports history ("Cristiano Ronaldo... Brandy Chastain") and rare success of Sue's own in “Uncanny” likeness.
  • Behind-the-scenes process: Input given to the artists, and practical lessons about bronze as a sculpting material.
• Quote:
  “I think your statue and the Naismith hall of Fame—those two... you're so proud and this is incredible. There's no way to like, feel really, truly, like, the magnitude of what that means.” – Megan Rapinoe (17:10)
• Memorable moment:
  Megan’s joking critique of "Butter Sue" and discussion of fans wanting to keep it (11:48).

4. Living in the Limelight: The Press & Photography (15:12–16:56)

• Megan picking up real film photography, joining the pro athlete-to-sports-photographer pipeline (Marshawn Lynch, Randy Johnson, Ken Griffey Jr. legends referenced).
• Importance of creativity after retirement, and athletes’ need for expressive outlets.
• Quote:
  “Sports people are, like, inherently creative in some kind of way... When I stopped playing, I found that there was a big absence in creativity and being able to just, like, do stuff and have fun and whatever.” – Megan Rapinoe (16:30)

5. The Emotional Toll of Public Speeches & Legacy (17:44–23:35)

• Overwhelm and gratitude in repeatedly being honored.
• Speechwriting routines, comedic timing, and revisiting meaningful career and personal moments.
• Sue on her retirement speech marathon (“over an hour”), and learning to craft more focused messages over time.
• Quote:
  “I held that whole arena hostage, but... it wasn't just a career. It was a life.” – Sue Bird (19:39)
• Behind-the-scenes anecdote: The Olympics as the site of Dwyane Wade, LeBron, and Chris Bosh clandestinely plotting the Miami Heat "Big 3."

6. Hall of Fame Timelines and Narratives (24:04–25:22)

• Pablo addresses misinformation about Megan’s Hall of Fame eligibility (“Reuters: Fact Check: Megan Rapinoe NOT disqualified…”).
• Quote:
  “Congratulations on not being disqualified and remaining eligible.” – Pablo Torre (25:02)
• Next up for Megan: Hall of Fame eligibility in 2027, location (Frisco, Texas), and a tongue-in-cheek take on the journey.

7. The State of Labor & Money in Women’s Sports (29:07–54:02)

a. The Nafisa Collier vs. Kathy Engelbert Showdown (29:32–36:14)

• Context: Collier’s viral exit interview criticizing WNBA commissioner Engelbert on pay and respect.
• Soundbites of direct quotes from Collier about revenue, salaries, and league leadership.
• Megan and Sue’s nuanced, insider breakdown of the labor and trust issues between players and the league.
• Quote:
  “With Kathy, if I have to, like, point to a failure, it's clearly that the trust in the relationship with the players has really broken down… she could have done a better job at maybe having more open ears or hearing them more.” – Megan Rapinoe (35:02)

b. The Evolution of Advocacy & Activism in the WNBA (39:30–44:10)

• Sue explains how WNBA players learned that “the only way people hear us is if we scream about it and go public.”
• Recap of 2020 bubble controversies, using media and social platforms to expose inequity (laundry room, weight room disparities).
• Megan notes how social media power has escalated players’ voices.
• Quote:
  “One of the stories I just told this one recently, we get to the bubble... We brought it to the attention of the WNBA... nothing got done. And then it took a player... to show pictures of this laundry room to talk about it.” – Sue Bird (41:04)

c. Pay, Media Deals, and CBA Negotiations (44:10–54:02)

• Reality check on rookie salaries (Caitlin Clark making $70K in Year 1) and the historic increase in the new media deal ($25M/year to $200M/year for the WNBA).
• Sue predicts salary jumps tied to rev-share in new CBA.
• The strategic timing of contracts: nearly all veteran contracts aligning to expire after this season to maximize CBA leverage.
• Quote:
  “We went from 20 to 30 million a year to 200 a year... the players are gonna get something of it already. Boom. You're gonna see salaries go up.” – Sue Bird (45:42)
• Negotiation wisdom:
  “Always leave the door open. Negotiate in good faith, go really hard at it. Work stoppages are catastrophic... Continue to show up, ask for the things that you want. Hear the other side too... That's a successful negotiation when it hurts a little bit on both sides.” – Megan Rapinoe (49:04)
• The wild prospect of an entire league hitting free agency at once:
  “...Caitlyn's at the 70, whatever thousand dollars mark, let's say the new minimum of the next CBA is 250, she'll jump to that. But every single other player's deal ran out or is running out this year. They will all be free agents plus, plus two expansion drafts.” – Sue Bird (53:11)

8. "Stud Buds" and the Viral Strapping Conversation (56:16–60:31)

• The Viral Moment:
  Pablo, Sue, and Megan recount the beloved “Stud Buds” Twitch stream featuring players Natisha Hiedeman and Courtney Williams, its community impact, and the resulting legendary “strap-on” debate.
• Sue and Megan give a primer on “strapping” for the unfamiliar, complete with double entendre and laughter.
• Pablo reflects on the evolution of candid, queer conversations in mainstream sports media spaces.
• Quote:
  “On a previous stream, Courtney purported that she had never, ever been strapped before. And Natisha was like, never? Like, really?... That's the photo that Adam [Silver] snapped.” – Megan Rapinoe (58:12) “So Adam Silver does or doesn't know what strapping is?” – Pablo Torre (60:20) “He does now.” – Megan Rapinoe (60:23)

9. Wrapping Up & Meta Reflection (61:03–61:29)

• The duo pokes fun at their podcasting habits, especially Megan’s tendency to speak directly to the camera.
• Quote:
  “You're not going to love this, but this is what it's like doing a podcast with her. You just talk, right? To the camera. You never talk to me.” – Sue Bird (60:44)

Key Quotes & Notable Moments (with Timestamps)

• Sue on Being Honored:
  “A lot of these, like, retirement type moments do feel like it's like a wedding and a funeral in one.” (07:57)
• Megan on Creativity Post-Retirement:
  “Sports people are like, inherently creative... When I stopped playing, I found that there was a big absence in creativity and being able to just, like, do stuff and have fun and whatever.” (16:30)
• Megan on Commissioner Kathy Engelbert:
  “If I have to, like, point to a failure, it's clearly that the trust in the relationship with the players has really broken down… she could have done a better job at maybe having more open ears or hearing them more.” (35:02)
• Sue on Activism in the WNBA:
  “...We brought it to the attention of the WNBA... nothing got done. And then it took a player... to show pictures of this laundry room to talk about it.” (41:04)
• Megan on Player-Owner Negotiations:
  “Always leave the door open. Negotiate in good faith, go really hard at it. Work stoppages are catastrophic...” (49:04)
• The “Strap-On” Moment:
  “On a previous stream, Courtney purported that she had never, ever been strapped before... That's the photo that Adam [Silver] snapped.” (58:12)

Takeaways for New Listeners

• Humor and Warmth: Sue and Megan’s dynamic with Pablo is playful and irreverent; listeners get a strong sense of their personalities and close relationship.
• Insider Perspective: Unique, jargon-filled insights that only true insiders can provide, especially around labor organizing, league politics, and personal transitioning from player to post-career.
• Cultural Fluency: The episode is a celebration of queer culture in women’s sports, advocacy for pay equity, and the evolving relationship between athletes and the leagues they built.
• Notable Segments to Revisit:
  • Sue Bird’s statue saga and “Butter Sue” (10:01–11:55)
  • Hall of Fame speech and Miami Heat “Big 3” anecdote (22:16–23:35)
  • Deep-dive on new WNBA media deal and CBA free agency (44:50–54:02)
  • The viral “Stud Buds”/strap-on conversation (56:57–60:31)

This episode is a must-listen for its rare blend of candor, cultural resonance, and timely labor analysis, all handled with humor and heart by three of sports’ most thoughtful communicators.