evidence: To Rapinoe, who has for so long been the brightly-coloured figurehead of the team, this moment likely feels like a profound and earth-shattering loss. [...] For Rapinoe, her decision was an obvious one. [...] While she became a lightning-rod for criticism from right-wing media outlets, Rapinoe stood firm in her convictions and used the publicity to her advantage, advancing the conversation around institutionalised racism in sport and the responsibility all athletes have to uplift the marginalised.