Megan Rapinoe SLAMMED by Piers Morgan and Riley Gaines for signing 'shameful' letter urging NCAA not to ban trans athletes from women's sports - weeks after her row with USA soccer star Korbin Albert

Megan Rapinoe has been branded 'shameful' by Piers Morgan for her involvement in a letter to NCAA urging them not to ban trans athletes competing in women's sports.

Rapinoe, wife Sue Bird and an array of other stars such as WNBA players Brianna Turner and Layshia Clarendon joint-signed the letter, which says the biggest issues in women's sports are 'unequal pay, rampant sexual abuse and harassment of women and girl athletes, and a lack of equal resources for men’s and women’s teams.'

The letter adds: 'By barring transgender athletes, you would be severely limiting the capacity of your member institutions to protect and support their athletes. Moreover, you would be actively disparaging transgender athletes – the same athletes you chose to protect when you agreed to serve on the Board of Governors.'

But Piers Morgan led the backlash on Thursday morning, responding to news of the letter on X by writing: 'Shameful to see women actively endorse unfairness and equality vs women.' 

Riley Gaines, the former University of Kentucky swimmer, added: 'Megan Rapinoe, in typical virtue-signaling fashion, is pulling up the ladder behind her. No one would know who Megan Rapinoe is it weren't for women's sports lol.'

Megan Rapinoe signed a letter calling on trans athletes not to be banned from women's sports

Piers Morgan led the backlash at Rapinoe, calling her 'shameful' for signing the letter 

There were plenty of fans in disagreement with Rapinoe on social media, too. 

One said: 'These idiots refuse to face reality. Men, whether Trans or not, will only injure women & will always win. Unfair to women. NCAA need the guts to say NO!'

Another wrote on X: 'Women need to speak out against imbeciles like Rapinoe, and not stay silent. She’s a joke. There is a biological difference between Women and Men. It’s a Fact, like it or not.'

The NCAA has allowed transgender women to compete on women's sports teams since 2010 but last year, said it planned to implement a sport-by-sport approach to the debate. 

Rapinoe, meanwhile, recently called out USA women's player Korbin Albert for sharing anti-LGBT content on her TikTok account.

The (now-deleted) posts that Albert shared were re-posts of a Christian worship space discussing how being gay and 'feeling transgender' is wrong.

Rapine wrote a post on Instagram criticizing Albert - she didn't name her directly but later said to The Athletic that Albert was the intended recipient.

Rapinoe's post read: 'To the people who want to hide behind "my beliefs" I would just ask one question, are you making any time of space safer, more inclusive, more whole, any semblance of better, bringing the best out of anyone? … because if you aren't all you believe in is hate. 

'And Kids are literally killing themselves because of this hate. Wake TF up! Yours Truly, #15.' 

Rapinoe recently called out USA soccer player Korbin Albert for sharing anti LGBT content 

Albert, 20, promptly apologized and vowed to 'do better' with her actions on social media 

Albert then apologized, saying: 'I want to sincerely apologize for my actions on social media. Liking and sharing posts that are offensive, insensitive and hurtful was immature and disrespectful which was never my intent.

'I'm really disappointed in myself and am deeply sorry for the hurt that I have caused to my teammates, other players, fans, friends and anyone who was offended.

I truly believe that everyone should feel safe and respected everywhere and on all playing fields. I know my actions have not lived up to that and for that I sincerely apologize.

'It's an honor and a privilege to get to play this sport and on the world stage and I promise to do better.'