Conservatives have celebrated the U.S. women’s national team’s (USWNT) exit from the World Cup after a defeat by Sweden in a tense penalty shootout, with star forward Megan Rapinoe the main target of online abuse.
A Fox anchor who has no knowledge of sports blamed the loss to Megan Rapinoe’s activism as the reason the team suffered the loss.
The defending champions exited the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Melbourne, Australia, as the Swedes won a penalty shootout 5-4 following a goalless 90 minutes and extra time.
To make matters worse, Rapinoe, 38, whose off-field activism and support for transgender people has enraged conservatives, missed her penalty kick—giving Sweden a lifeline.
It was a bitterly disappointing end for Rapinoe who announced in July that she was retiring from the sport and that the tournament in Australia would be her last World Cup.
But a number of conservatives online were delighted to see USWNT—one of the tournament favorites—exit the competition.
