Megan Rapinoe Receives Presidential Medal of Freedom

Soccer legend Megan Rapinoe was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom this week and took the opportunity to pay tribute to Brittney Griner in the process.

The NWSL star was one of 17 recipients of the award on Thursday after making a name for herself over the last years both on and off the field. In addition to helping the U.S. Women’s National Team take home two Olympic medals and two World Cup championships, she has become recognizable for her activism, particularly in regard to the LGBTQ+ community and gender discrimination.

President Joe Biden said while awarding her the honor:

“Megan is a champion for essential American truth that everyone is entitled to be treated with dignity and respect. She helped lead the change for perhaps the most important victory for anyone on our soccer team or any soccer team: equal pay for women.”

On her Instagram Stories, Rapinoe drew attention to the blazer she wore during the ceremony, which had been embroidered with the initials “BG” and a flower.

The soccer superstar wrote:

“The most important part of today. BG, we love you.”

BG, of course, refers to Griner, the WNBA star who has been detained in Russia for over four months after being accused of bringing cannabis products into the country. The athlete pled guilty yesterday, saying she packed oil cartridges in her suitcase by accident.

As the charge could leave her spending up to 10 years in Russian prison, activists, fans, and peers have been trying to draw bigger attention to her case in hopes of getting the US government to step up its efforts to bring her home instead.

Rapinoe has spoken out in support of Griner in the past. She is concerned that Griner is being used as a political pawn as part of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the turmoil it has caused around the world.