Soccer star Megan Rapinoe's recent comments on transgender athletes in women's sports have sparked a reaction from tennis legend Martina Navratilova, as Rapinoe prepares for her final World Cup appearance. In an interview with Time magazine, Rapinoe expressed her support for transgender women competing in women's sports, stating that she would welcome a transgender woman replacing a biological female on the U.S. national team. She criticized lawmakers for attempting to "legislate away people's full humanity" and dismissed concerns about fairness as disingenuous.

Navratilova, a long-time advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, responded to Rapinoe's comments with a single word: "Yikes…" While Navratilova has been a vocal supporter of the gay community, she has also expressed concerns about the inclusion of transgender women in women's sports. She has previously advocated for separate categories for biological females and an "open" category for others.

This difference of opinion highlights the ongoing debate surrounding transgender participation in sports. Rapinoe argued that claims of transgender athletes taking advantage of their status are unfounded, asserting that she views transgender women as real women. She emphasized that excluding transgender women from women's sports is inherently transphobic.

This isn't the first time the two athletes have held differing views. In April, Rapinoe co-signed a letter opposing the Protection of Girls and Women in Sports Act, arguing that the bill would negatively impact the mental and physical health benefits for girls and women. Conversely, Navratilova applauded World Athletics for adopting a policy to exclude transgender female athletes from women's competitions earlier this year, calling it a "step in the right direction."

As Rapinoe embarks on her final World Cup journey, seeking an unprecedented three-peat for the U.S. Women’s National Team, this exchange underscores the complex and sensitive nature of this ongoing discussion. The 38-year-old announced her retirement plans following the 2023 NWSL season.