Megan Rapinoe invokes Russell Westbrook to celebrate vs. Brazil, congratulate new mom teammates

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Russell Westbrook famously taunts vanquished opponents with his signature rock-the-baby celebration, a move that generally evoked confusion until he explained it after dropping it on Patrick Beverley in 2018.

"Yeah, you got little kids, you got little babies, put 'em to sleep," Westbrook said of Beverley. "That's what happens. Little guards, you gotta rock 'em."

Rapinoe rocks baby in USWNT win over Brazil

The taunt that gained traction around the NBA gained new life — and new meaning — on Sunday when the U.S. Women's National Team took on Brazil at the She Believes Cup. Megan Rapinoe scored the second of USA's two goals in a 2-0 victory, sending a one-timer into the net on an assist from Lindsey Horan late in the second half.

She immediately ran to a baseline camera where she rocked the baby and blew a kiss.

Special meaning behind Rapinoe's baby rock

Was this a message to her Brazilian defenders who proved helpless to stop her on Sunday? Not likely. The message here was fairly clear — and much more literal that Westbrook's.

Rapinoe's USWNT teammates Ali Krieger and Ashlyn Harris did not join the team for this year's She Believes Cup. The married couple have bigger priorities right now —notably looking after their newly adopted daughter Sloane Philips. Krieger and Harris announced the arrival of Sloane last week, shortly after her birth on Feb. 12.

So Krieger and Harris were likely watching Sunday's match from home — when finding breaks from feeding, diaper changes and, well, rocking the baby.

Sunday's win at the She Believes Cup was the second in two games for USA, which beat Canada, 1-0 last week to open the round-robin tournament. Team USA will look to finish 3-0 with a game against Argentina on Wednesday.

United States forward Megan Rapinoe (15) celebrates after scoring a goal during the second half of a SheBelieves Cup women's soccer match against Brazil, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Megan Rapinoe had a special message for her sidelined teammates on Sunday. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

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