Keep your tears and your tea.
United States Women's National Team star Megan Rapinoe has a message for those who took exception to Alex Morgan's tea-sipping celebration in the USWNT's 2-1 win over England on Tuesday in the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup semifinal: "Wah, wah, wah."
"I mean, it's like, we're at the World Cup," Rapinoe said Wednesday to reporters. "What do you want us to do? This is the biggest stage, the biggest moment. I don't think anyone truly believes that we disrespect the game or we disrespect our opponent. We have the utmost respect for England and every team that we've faced and every team that we will face, forever and ever. That's just part of the DNA of the squad.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
"With that said, we work hard and we like to play hard. We like to have fun and enjoy ourselves, and these are the absolute biggest moments to do that."
Football players have group celebrations in the end zone every Sunday in the NFL. Warriors fans rise to their feet with every Steph Curry shimmy. The public is asking for more bat flips in baseball every game. And yet, it's Morgan who has detractors as she displays her dominance while representing her country.
Morgan's celebration came after her goal that wound up being the game-winner to send the USWNT to their third straight World Cup final. And yet, she somehow did something wrong? Think about that.
Soccer
There's something wrong with that equation. Rapinoe knows that, and she shouldn't be alone there.
The USWNT will face the winner of Wednesday's semifinal between Sweeden and the Netherlands on Sunday in Lyon.
Whoever scores -- for either side -- shouldn't hold back one bit, too.