Women’s World Cup: As champions for equality, USWNT to be admired in its fight for lasting change

It has been impossible to ignore the US Women’s National Team in this World Cup, but so too impossible not to admire them.

When many teams would have soaked up the adulation and reveled in winning the biggest prize in women’s football, the USWNT regarded the aftermath of victory as the perfect platform to drive their fight for equality further forward.

Almost immediately after beating the Netherlands 2-0 in the Women’s World Cup final in Lyon, the players issued a statement which brought their battle for equal pay with the US Soccer Federation to the forefront of the conversation once again.

“At this moment of tremendous pride for America, the sad equation remains all too clear, and Americans won’t stand for it anymore. These athletes generate more revenue and garner higher TV ratings but get paid less simply because they are women,” said Molly Levinson, spokeswoman for the USWNT players in their equal pay lawsuit.

“It is time for the Federation to correct this disparity once and for all.”

It was an act which arguably emphasized that not only was this World Cup win a victory for the US, but for everyone striving for equality and social justice too. The Netherlands, of course, will perhaps think differently as they lick their wounds.

US captain Megan Rapinoe lifts the World Cup trophy after the Americans defeated the Netherlands 2-0 on Sunday, July 7.

Allie Long, left, and Alex Morgan celebrate in the postgame confetti.

US players, wearing new "Champions 19" jerseys, celebrate with family and friends in the crowd.

US players celebrate after the final whistle.

Morgan savors the victory after the final whistle.

Dutch players fall to the ground as the Americans celebrate their victory.

US players celebrate after Rapinoe scored the opening goal off a penalty in the 61st minute.

Rapinoe slots home her penalty past Sari van Veenendaal.

Morgan is fouled by Dutch defender Stefanie Van der Gragt in the second half. After the incident was reviewed by video, the referee awarded the penalty that Rapinoe converted.

Rose Lavelle, third from left, scored the game's second goal in the 69th minute.

Dutch fans watch the match from inside the stadium.

American midfielder Samantha Mewis, right, and Dutch midfielder Danielle van de Donk compete for a header in the early minutes of the final.

Rapinoe is challenged by Van de Donk in the first half.

The Netherlands' Lieke Martens and the US' Kelley O'Hara lie on the field after a collision late in the first half. O'Hara had to be substituted at halftime.

US head coach Jill Ellis watches the action from the sideline. She also coached the Americans to the World Cup title in 2015.

Rapinoe connects on a header.

US defender Abby Dahlkemper battles Lineth Beerensteyn for the ball.

Players eye a ball in the US penalty box.

Morgan is closed down by van der Gragt.

US goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, left, clears the ball before Beerensteyn could get to it in the first half.

Referee Stephanie Frappart shows an early yellow card.

US defender Crystal Dunn plays a ball in the first half.

Dutch King Willem-Alexander, far left, and French President Emmanuel Macron, far right, are attending the match.

The teams stand for their national anthems before the match.

US fans get ready for the match at the stadium.

Dutch fans cheer during the pregame warmups.

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Dominant team and leading voice

If the USWNT is the dominant team in the women’s game – a ruthless accumulator of World Cup titles like no other in the competition’s history – it is also its leading voice.

Becoming world champion for the second successive time in a tournament FIFA president Gianni Infantino has described as the “best Women’s World Cup ever” will increase the influence of a confident group of players who, despite all their achievements, are still fighting for recompense.

It was not by accident that it was on International Women’s Day that the squad announced they were taking legal action against their own federation over alleged “institutional gender discrimination.”

Alex Morgan and Allie Long of the USA celebrate following victory in the Women's World Cup final.

There will be mediation, it has been reported, after this tournament but the statement issued on the final whistle in Lyon shows how determined the players are to achieve their aims.

The sound of the thousands of USWNT supporters, in France in numbers over the last month, repeatedly bellowing “equal pay” when their team had just won also suggests the players have plenty of backing.

When Infantino appeared on the pitch at the Groupama Stadium, a chorus of boos rippled around the arena as the majority of the 57,900 spectators made their feelings known about the football administrator.

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‘Champions for equality’

On the pitch this team is clinical. It has swagger and belief. It has been accused of arrogance. But these athletes are willing to fight for social justice just as fiercely as they do to win matches.

Tweeting before the team’s savage 13-0 win over Thailand, former US President Barack Obama described the USWNT as “champions for equality, on and off the field.”

Megan Rapinoe, the US captain who has previously called herself as a “walking protest,” told CNN earlier this year that the team is happy to “clear the path as much as we can” for female footballers in other countries in the fight for gender equality.

Megan Rapinoe poses with the Golden Ball next to Rose Lavelle with the Bronze Ball.

Facing a room full of reporters Sunday, Rapinoe – a player described by her coach Jill Ellis as the kind of spokesperson that the game needs – again not only spoke for herself and her teammates, but for all footballers who had competed in France these last few weeks.

“I think everyone is ready for this conversation to move to the next step,” she said when asked about her reaction to the crowd’s booing.

“I think we’re done with ‘are we worth it, should we have equal pay, is the market the same, yadda, yadda.’ Fans are done with that, players are done with that. In a lot of ways, I think sponsors and everyone’s done with that.

“Let’s get to the next point – how do we support women’s federations and women’s programs around the world? What can FIFA do, what can we do to support the leagues around the world?

“We put on as all players, every player at this World Cup, put on the most incredible show that you can ever ask for and we can’t do anything more to impress more, to be better ambassadors, to take on more, to play better.

“It’s time to move that conversation forward to the next step and a little public shame never hurt anybody, right. I’m down with the boos.”

Rapinoe celebrates after scoring the USWNT's first goal in the World Cup final win over the Netherlands.

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A lasting change?

Rapinoe was one of five players whose names were on a lawsuit filed against US soccer’s governing body in 2016 alleging wage discrimination, which led to a new collective bargaining agreement.

It was a fight that inspired other sportswomen: Canada’s soccer team reportedly sought advice on how to get maternity coverage into contracts, and the US hockey team asked the USWNT for help.

Around the world, women’s teams found their voices after the USWNT had stepped forward. Nigeria’s soccer players held a sit-in at their hotel to demand unpaid salaries, Ireland’s female footballers threatened to strike, Australia did so, and Norway signed an equal pay agreement in 2017.

US players celebrate after winning the World Cup final on Sunday, July 7.

US captain Megan Rapinoe, right, celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal of the final. She converted a penalty in the 61st minute.

The penalty was awarded after a video review of this incident. US forward Alex Morgan was fouled in the box by Dutch defender Stefanie van der Gragt.

Rose Lavelle, third from left, celebrates after adding the team's second goal in the 69th minute.

Morgan celebrates her tournament-leading sixth goal in the 2-1 semifinal win against England on Tuesday, July 2. Rapinoe and England's Ellen White later tied her.

US goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher saves a penalty by England's Steph Houghton late in the semifinal. The goal preserved the Americans' 2-1 lead.

Morgan made headlines with her tea-drinking goal celebration against England. The goal came on what was her 30th birthday.

Many fans were perplexed when Rapinoe was left out of the starting lineup of the England match. She didn't participate in warmups, either. It was announced after the match that she was nursing a slight hamstring strain. She was back in the lineup for the final.

Christen Press, left, celebrates her opening goal against England with Lindsey Horan. Press was the surprise starter in place of Rapinoe.

Rapinoe celebrates one of her two goals in the 2-1 victory over France in the quarterfinals. After being embroiled in a war of words with US President Donald Trump, Rapinoe became the focus of unprecedented scrutiny during this World Cup.

US defender Abby Dahlkemper, left, and France's Valerie Gauvin battle for a header. Many experts considered France to be the Americans' biggest challenger in this tournament.

Morgan is challenged by French players Amandine Henry, left, and Amel Majri.

The US team huddles before the second half of the France match.

US forward Jessica McDonald holds her son, Jeremiah, after the France win.

Rapinoe slots home a goal from the penalty spot during the Americans' 2-1 victory over Spain in the round of 16. Rapinoe again had both goals. Both were off penalties.

Spanish forward Jennifer Hermoso and US defender Kelley O'Hara compete for a header.

US midfielder Julie Ertz gets a kiss from her husband, NFL star Zach Ertz, after the Americans defeated Sweden 2-0 in the final match of the group stage.

Horan, right, scored the opening goal against Sweden in the third minute. At left is US midfielder Rose Lavelle. The Americans didn't allow a goal in their three group matches, winning them by a combined score of 18-0.

US head coach Jill Ellis sings the National Anthem before the group-stage match against Chile. Ellis was also the coach when the US team won the World Cup four years ago.

US fans celebrate a goal in the Americans' 3-0 victory over Chile. Thousands of US fans made the trip to France.

Chile's Javiera Tora, left, and US midfielder Mallory Pugh focus on the ball.

Carli Lloyd, the Golden Ball winner from the 2015 World Cup, scored the third US goal against Chile. This year, she was mostly used as a substitute.

Young US fans watch the match against Chile.

Rapinoe celebrates her goal during the team's 13-0 rout over Thailand. It was the largest win in World Cup history for any team, men or women. But the team was criticized for the way it celebrated many of its late goals.

Lloyd consoles some of the Thai players after the blowout victory.

Lloyd is closed down by a Thai defender in the opening match.

O'Hara, foreground, cheers on her teammates after a goal against Thailand.

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The US has seen off the best teams in the world in France. In England and France, it has beaten the sides ranked No.3 and No.4 respectively and, to secure its country’s fourth world title, swept aside the Netherlands, the European champion.

Unbeaten in 17 World Cup matches, this USWNT side is undoubtedly the finest of its generation. A hegemony is not good for any sport, admittedly, but what this tournament has shown is that the USWNT is being rapidly pursued by European countries whose men’s national teams have long since been a force.

Seven of the quarterfinalists in France were European and federations and clubs in France, England and the Netherlands, for instance, are investing heavily in the game.

Though it is the USWNT which reigned supreme at the conclusion of this 52-match tournament, one day the dynasty will end, which is why its team of campaigners should be admired for speaking for the many in a fight which could lead to lasting change.