US Women’s National Team stars on equal pay: To win that fight is bigger than World Cup victory

When you have the chance to sign two star soccer players from the US Women’s National Team, who happen to be winners of the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France, the decision would seem to be a no-brainer.

And that’s exactly what Manchester United Women Football Club did in signing midfielder Tobin Heath and forward Christen Press in September.

Now the two Americans are making their presence felt both on and off the pitch, as they tackle a new challenge in the FA Women’s Super League, joining their compatriots Rose Lavelle, Alex Morgan and Samantha Mewis.

“I think that with the amount of great players that have come to England and with the kind of change of sports culture that’s happened with Covid-19, there’s a huge opportunity for women’s football to be put equally to men’s and to be shown on the same channels at the same times and to be given that same respect,” two-time World Cup winner Press told CNN Sport’s Amanda Davies.

United States' midfielder Rose Lavelle (L) celebrate scoring the 2-0 goal with her teammate United States' forward Alex Morgan during the France 2019 Womens World Cup football final match between USA and the Netherlands, on July 7, 2019, at the Lyon Stadium in Lyon, central-eastern France. (Photo by Philippe DESMAZES / AFP) (Photo credit should read PHILIPPE DESMAZES/AFP via Getty Images)

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“And just as we are pioneers in our sport, because women’s football is very young in comparison, we are pioneers in this global equality that needs to exist and an opportunity that needs to exist for all,” added Heath.

“And I think that’s the message that people want to see. People don’t want to just root for a team anymore. They want to root for something more.”

Off the pitch, both Heath and Press are equally busy. They’re are co-founders of re-Inc – a streetwear fashion brand founded in partnership with fellow USWNT player Megan Rapinoe and former 2015 World Cup winning teammate Meghan Klingenberg.

Press, Heath, and re-Inc also recently teamed up with the American snack company Stacy’s as part of an effort to promote female-founded businesses and gain more public visibility for them.

Tobin Heath and Christen Press celebrate with the FIFA Women's World Cup trophy.

Fight for equal pay continues

Also very much in the public view is the on-going battle for equal pay, which is a fight neither star is willing to give up on, despite a federal judge dismissing the USWNT players’ lawsuit against the US Soccer Federation in May.

“We talk about it all the time. We will get very little personally from winning the lawsuit. But we do it because it will greatly impact the future within the game,” Press told CNN Sport. “It will create resources for players, hopefully globally. And it sets a precedent that women in all jobs, in all careers, have a stake.”

Press added: “I think that’s one of our strengths as a team in fighting this lawsuit, is that we have strong, powerful women all around us, all the time. And our norm is not the world’s norm. We’re used to seeing women as leaders, as women, as life changers, game changers, world changers. And so that, I think, is our superpower.”

READ: As champions for equality, USWNT to be admired in its fight for lasting change

Heath, the two-time World Cup winner, also explained her position, noting: “I think it’s bigger than anything we could ever win in football. And the reason I say that is because in football, even by winning a World Cup, you inspire that next generation of girls playing soccer.

“But in this, you can inspire the whole entire world to be treated equally and to be paid equally. And that far outweighs anything I could ever do on the field.”