I'm Going to the World Cup!
I’m headed to the Women’s World Cup in France and I couldn’t be more excited! I love women’s soccer. I played soccer myself, love watching my kids play, and even coach my daughter’s team. I’ve loved US Women’s Soccer since the 90’s when Michelle Akers, Mia Hamm, and Brandi Chastain where the stars.
When this current World Cup started, I watched the first US game vs Thailand with my son. Our star Alex Morgan scored FIVE goals and the final score was 13-0. Holy crap! The US looked absolutely fantastic and I had so much fun watching that I decided right then and there that I needed to be there in person! To me, this is the holy grail of sports. No World Series, Super Bowl or Stanley Cup would hold a candle to women’s soccer. They are amazing athletes. But it’s MORE THAN SOCCER.
US Women’s Soccer are leaders for all women. And girls. Despite being paid a fraction of what their male counterparts earn, they are still going for every win while trying to gain equal pay for female players.
Just a few examples:
Four years ago the US Women’s team beat Japan to win the World Cup title. They drew a TV audience of 25 million people - a US record for any soccer game ever.
The US men’s team failed to qualify for the last World Cup. In 2014, they made it to the round of 16 and received a $9 million dollar bonus from FIFA. The women’s team, after winning the World Cup, received a $2 million bonus from FIFA. What!?
The women’s team coach, Jill Ellis, has a World Cup win on her coaching resume. She received $318,000 in compensation. The men’s coach on the other hand, whose team did not qualify for the World Cup, is paid $1.2 million. What!?
This issue does not just apply to the US women’s team. In fact, a recent survey showed that the US women’s team made more than most other women’s teams around the world. Some players are only reimbursed for travel expenses and have to hold other jobs to get by.
The US women’s team, led by Alex Morgan, is currently suing US soccer for gender discrimination.
As Abby Wambach, former player, team captain and all around bad-ass said “her win is your win too” - meaning we all rise when women win.
No pressure, US Women’s National Team. This is what we women do. We see that you are the top of the top notch athletes. We see that you are fighting for equal pay. We see that you are role models. We see that you have taken a stand for issues that matter, even if it’s not a popular opinion. We see that you are helping women athletes everywhere. We know you can do it all because that’s what women do.
My sister and I will be there in person, cheering you on! GO USA!!!
PS What’s YOUR “World Cup”? What’s at the top of your Fun list? If you want to bring more fun to your life, I can help!
PPS Major props to Luna Bar who paid each player who made the World Cup team a $35,000 “roster bonus” to make up for the difference in what the men’s team players received! I’ll be packing some Luna bars for the trip to France!