On the Who’s With Me? podcast, the soccer legend and out lesbian was asked by host W. Kamau Bell why she wasn’t afraid of trans women in sports. Rapinoe responded by challenging a familiar anti-trans talking point: that athletes can simply declare themselves women and compete.

“There’s a lot that trans people have to go through if you’re a trans person in sports to even play,” she began. “It’s like you couldn’t just say one day, 'I’m a woman,' and go play. That’s not how it works.”