Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird Become First Openly Gay Couple Featured on ESPN's Body Issue Cover

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Seattle Storm Point Guard Sue Bird speaks on stage during We Day at KeyArena on April 20, 2016 in Seattle, Washington Mat Hayward/Getty Images

Sue Bird of the WNBA and Megan Rapinoe of the Nation Women's Soccer League will become the first openly gay couple to appear on the cover of ESPN's Body Issue when it debuts Friday.

Rapinoe, 32, was surprised the magazine wanted both of them for the cover. "To have this really unique vehicle to actually do that, to celebrate who we are in our sport, but also the fact that we'll be the first gay couple is pretty special. Not only are we female athletes, but we're dating as well. It's kind of badass," Rapinoe told ESPN Monday.

"I think it's important to do these things first. It's important for people to come out. Visibility is important. It's important for there to be a first one on the cover [of the Body Issue], or whatever," Rapinoe added. "Just in terms of the culture and society, someone has to do it."

A member of the 2011 FIFA World Cup team, Rapinoe has been a trendsetting public figure in sports. In 2012, she was shortlisted as a finalist for the FIFA World Player of the Year award and in 2015 she was inducted into the National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame.

Bird, 37, has had a decorated basketball career since she was drafted first overall in 2002. She won two WNBA titles and was selected to play in ten WNBA all-star games. In 2016, she was voted as one of the top 20 players to compete in the WNBA's then 20-year history.

Bird is not the only hoops star that will be featured in the issue. Teammate Breanna Stewart will also appear. She won the 2016 WNBA Rookie of the Year award, as voted by a national panel of 39 sportswriters and broadcasters.

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