Women are consistently underestimated and overlooked in every industry — especially sports.
The undervaluation of women in sports is best represented by the ongoing battle between members of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team and the U.S Soccer Federation.
Developments in the case include the U.S. Soccer Legal team having the audacity to name the USWNT 2019 World Cup Champions “less skilled” and state that they bare “less responsibility” than their male counterparts and therefore, logically, deserve to be paid less.
So I am here to say first and foremost, The USWNT not only represents our country on a national stage but also DOMINATES that stage. Each woman serves as an example for young women around the world that they can accomplish anything. They carry such an important responsibility it’s honestly laughable that a team full of lawyers would argue otherwise.
Coco Cola, Budweiser and Visa along with a slew of sport fans and other sponsors also found it laughable and said lawyers were dropped. Cheers to one good decision.
Not long after, the President of U.S. Soccer who was a man we don’t care about, resigned. Subsequently, the former Vice President Cindy Parlow Cone stepped in as interim president until the next election. She is the first woman to hold the position, but given the circumstances I wouldn’t call this a huge win for the ladies.
Despite ploys made by the U.S Soccer Federation to curtail public backlash, no amount of PR and placation of soccer fans will outweigh the detrimental implications and outcome of this litigation.
The damage has already been done, with no turning back as of May 1, 2020 when the most consequential part of the USWNT case was rejected. The judge dismissed the argument that the players were systematically underpaid by U.S soccer in comparison to the men’s national team.
This ruling is a gigantic step in the wrong direction for U.S. Soccer, pay inequality, and overall perception of the worth America sees in its women.
So, I thought I’d take a step in the right direction and introduce you to 10 of the most badass and influential women in sports who are changing everything.
Today, in Part 1 of my 10-part series, we’ll take a look at U.S. Women’s Soccer legend Megan Rapinoe.
Megan Rapinoe
As evident by the ongoing litigation between 28 USWNT players and the U.S. Soccer Federation regarding “institutionalized gender discrimination”, the USWNT is underrated and so is captain Megan Rapinoe.
Despite less money and resources being put into women’s soccer and players making a small fraction of their male counterparts, Rapinoe has dominated soccer and led female forces in sports on a world stage for over a decade.
Rapinoe spent her collegiate career at the University of Portland, creating a legacy and racking up multiple NCAA and NSCAA First-Team All-American selections. As a freshman, she led the Pilots to an undefeated season and a NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer championship. Not to mention, Rapinoe was also titled West Coast Conference Freshman (2005) and Player of the year (2008).
The Chicago Red Stars drafted Rapinoe as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2009 inaugural Women’s Professional Soccer draft and she bounced around teams until landing on solid turf with Ol Reign F.C.
Rapinoe played a key role in the United States winning the silver medal at the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup. She served a precise pass to Abby Wambach who scored an equalizer goal in the 122ndminute for the latest goal ever in World Cup history. Rapinoe would later win an ESPY for Best Play of the Year.
At the 2012 Olympics, Rapinoe led the United States to a gold medal, amassing a team high of 4 assists and scoring 3 goals including the first ever Olympic Games goal scored directly from a corner pass/play.
Rapinoe and the USWNT went on to win gold at both the 2015 and 2019 FIFA World Cups.
During the 2019 final, Rapinoe scored her 50thinternational goal, and at 34 became the oldest woman to score in a World Cup final. Following the WC, she was awarded the Golden Boot as the top scorer in the tournament with 6 goals, as well as the Golden Ball for being the best player in the tournament. For Rapinoe, 2019 also included being named The Best FIFA Women’s player, winner of the Ballon d’Or Féminin, and Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year.
Aside from being a part of one of the most dominant teams in sports history and regarded as one of the greatest female soccer players of time, Megan Rapinoe has stepped up as a voice for the LGBTQ+ community, one of the most prominent faces of the equal pay movement, philanthropist, feminist and exceptional role model.
As a lesbian woman herself, Rapinoe works with multiple LGBTQ+ organizations including Athlete Ally and the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN). In 2013 she received the Board of Directors Award from the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center.
In 2017, Rapinoe and Alex Morgan were the first two females to join the Common Goal movement and pledge to donate 1% of their personal wages to soccer related charities.
Rapinoe expanded her dedication to challenging gender norms and increasing positive representation by joining fellow athletes Meghan Klingenberg, Christen Press and Tobin Heath in creating a gender-neutral lifestyle brand named Re-inc.
Her political activism and outspokenness has put Rapinoe at the forefront of multiple humanitarian issues sparking both mass adoration and disapproval around the world. But, whether you agree with Megan Rapinoe or not, and no matter which way you slice up her accomplishments, Rapinoe is one hell of a footballer and activist.
As representatives of our country, paramount idols for little girls (and boys) everywhere, and actual winners of the Women’s World Cup, Megan and the entire USWNT deserve genuine, widespread recognition and a huge pay increase.
Clearly the achievements of Megan Rapinoe were many and she’s no different than the nine other incredible women featured on this list. That being said, I couldn’t possibly fit all of their accomplishments into one article. So, stay tuned for the second badass woman in this 10-part series.
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