Spain's triumph at the Women's World Cup has been marred by the country's FA president Luis Rubiales kissing player Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the post-match presentation.
Head coach Jorge Vilda also appeared to touch a female member of the coaching staff inappropriately during the final against England and has proved a divisive figure - with 15 players resigning from the team last year with him at the centre of their complaints.
USA legend Rapione has been outspoken about women's rights and thinks the incident shows that lots of progress still needs to be made in women's football.
She told The Atlantic: "It made me think about how much we are required to endure.
"Think how much that Spanish team had to shoulder: Some of the players who stood up way back last year (in protest at poor treatment from their federation and their coach) still aren’t on the team. Maybe that was something that galvanized them, but you shouldn’t have to have that.
"There was another picture that signals such a deep level of misogyny and sexism in that federation and in that man at the final whistle, just grabbing his crotch.
"What kind of upside-down world are we in? On the biggest stage, where you should be celebrating, Jenni has to be physically assaulted by this guy."
Rapinoe's international career came to an end as she missed a penalty in the USA's defeat to Sweden in the last 16 of the tournament but she would not hesitate to take the spot-kick again.
She said: "I would take that one again. I would pick me.
"For a long time, I have thought about missing one in a really big moment. What are you going to do? The only other thing you could do is to not take one. I'm not going to do that.
"I would rather step up and be in that moment, and I think that's something that made the criticism after that loss particularly fake and disingenuous and absurd and outrageous to me. It's like, you're going to bash on me for getting out there and trying my best?"