By Tamara Laine
Fresh off their historic fourth world cup win, the U.S. women’s national team took a victory lap in the Big Apple as New York City hosted a ticker-tape parade for the world champions.
The triumphant team has dominated soccer, securing four titles in 28 years, which is twice as many as any other country in the tournament.
“This World Cup win is so much more than what was on the field. It seems like one of those just sort of iconic turning points in history, to be honest,” said U.S. women’s soccer team Captain Megan Rapinoe of the historic moment.
But their battles go beyond the field.
In March of 2019 members of the team filed a lawsuit saying they’ve showed the same skill as the men, but played more games, generated more money, and performed better, all while receiving a fraction of the pay.
“Equal Pay!” Equal Pay”
“It’s really more about the investment in the game. Is the investment equal?” Rapinoe asked.
Chants of equal pay following the players back to New York City and down the Canyon of Heroes.
Prior to the parade, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, had his own welcome for the U.S. champions.
“You should get paid the same amount whatever the job is,” he agreed.
“These are women’s soccer players. They play the same game that the men’s soccer players play. By the way, they play it better. They play it with better results. If there is any economic rationale, the men should get paid less than the women. Let’s be honest.”
Governor Cuomo took the opportunity to sign into law pay equity legislation in order to close the gender wage gap.
“New York is going to lead the way. And we say to the U.S. Soccer League and we say to FIFA: If you don’t pay women what you pay men….then you have no business in the state of New York,” he said.
Though the team waits to mediate their suit with the U.S. Soccer Federation, they celebrated their massive victory with fans, New York and the nation.