The United States Women’s National Team became the first team in history to win four World Cup titles after beating the Netherlands 2-0 in the gold-medal game Sunday.
But it’s what the women are doing for gender equality that is making them true heroes across the nation. On May 8, 2019, International Women’s Day, all 28 members of the US team filed a gender discrimination lawsuit against the US Soccer Federation in an effort to get equal pay as men.
During the World Cup title game and ticker-tape parade today, chants of “Equal Pay” broke out in the crowd.
🗣 EQUAL PAY #USWNT pic.twitter.com/hQMGz6q54H
— Mina Park (@minapark) July 7, 2019
The crowd chants “equal pay” as the US women’s soccer team celebrates their World Cup victory at the ticker tape #USWNTParade in New York City pic.twitter.com/Lf1jzHSIb0
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) July 10, 2019
Among the numbers cited in the EEOC filing are that the women would earn $99,000 each if they won 20 friendlies, the minimum number they are required to play in a year. But the men would likely earn $263,320 each for the same feat, and would get $100,000 even if they lost all 20 games. Additionally, the women get paid nothing for playing more than 20 games, while the men get between $5,000 and $17,625 for each game played beyond 20.
Then there’s the team’s co-captain and talented World Cup MVP, Megan Rapinoe, who is openly gay. In recent days, she has challenged the President of United States. “Your message is excluding people. You’re excluding me, you’re excluding people that look like me, you’re excluding people of color, you’re excluding Americans that maybe support you,” Rapinoe said courageously on Anderson Cooper when asked what she would say to Donald Trump.
“All players, I’m saying every player at this World Cup, put on the most incredible show that you could ever ask for,” Rapinoe added. “We can’t do anything more to impress, to be better ambassadors, to take on more, to play better, to do anything. It’s time to move that conversation forward to the next step.”
Plus, they party as hard as the Capitals.
Celebration about to hit Ovechkin levels. 🇺🇸🇺🇸
🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 https://t.co/jrvy93fTle— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) July 10, 2019
I think the USWNT may have been drinking on this flight pic.twitter.com/ECKgLarw7g
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) July 8, 2019
One way to take the next step is by voting with your wallet and wearing the kits and gear of the players. Men wearing jerseys of female sports stars should not be rare or an exception to the rule. One of my friends, Sam, who I play ball hockey with, wears a Haley Skarupa Boston Pride shirsey during games. Haley is a local hockey player from Maryland who has won gold as a member of the US National Women’s Hockey Team. Now, because of Sam, I have the same shirsey too. It’s because it’s cool.
The thing is, if the USWNT outearns the men’s team with merch, it further strengthens their case that they deserve equal pay… at the least.
So here are some USWNT championship items I think you should totally consider buying. You can see the full list of USWNT gear by clicking here. If you use the promo code, 29SHIP, during checkout you can get free shipping on orders over $30.
Megan Rapinoe jersey. It’s also available signed.
USWNT champions shirt.
Jersey replicate of the #19 Champions jersey the women wore after the game on Sunday.
Copy of the 2019 Women’s World Cup Champions Sports Illustrated Magazine hand-signed by Alex Morgan & Megan Rapinoe.
The other way to vote with your wallet is by attending Washington Spirit games. The Spirit play in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and currently sit fourth in the table, two points out of first place.
Every National Team player plays in the NWSL, and during her segment with Rachel Maddow, Rapinoe implored fans to not only support the USWNT, but the NWSL by going to games, buying jerseys, and becoming season ticketholders.
Megan Rapinoe on how fans can support the fight for equal pay: Come to games, buy jerseys, become season ticket holders, tell your friends about it. pic.twitter.com/Zooy7C3tEy
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) July 10, 2019
The Spirit feature USWNT players Mallory Pugh and Rose Lavelle, who scored the clinching goal in the final against the Netherlands and won the Bronze Ball.
Bliss from a rose! 🌹@roselavelle sealed the @USWNT's 4th #FIFAWWC with this beautiful run 🔥 pic.twitter.com/N3VGRyU1Sb
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 8, 2019
Tickets for their games at the Maryland Soccer Plex in Boyds, MD run as low as $25, and they’re slated to have two games at Audi Field against the Orlando Pride and Reign FC.
“She was very popular with the boys and girls, but the boys would come in and gripe after recess that she was beating them at soccer all the time.” https://t.co/umDUJ6J0lO
— Dan Steinberg (@dcsportsbog) July 10, 2019
RMNB will get a very small slice of profits from any purchases you make on Fanatics, which will help pay for our infrastructure and pay our sportswriters, consisting mostly of women.
Headline photo: Fanatics
