As most of the world knows, the United States Women's National Team (USWNT) was just crowned the winner of the 2019 Women's World Cup after defeating the Netherlands 2-0 in the championship game. These women also set numerous records during the tournament, such as most total goals in a tournament (26), most goals in a single match (13), and the most tournament wins by a single coach (Jill Ellis, 2), among others. The athletes have been praised for their talent and amazing gameplay, as well as their courage and fight for equality. They came home to the United States celebrated by a famous New York City ticker-tape parade.
Now, the women return to their normal lives. They return to play for Major League teams that most of the country doesn't even know exist. They return to playing in half-empty stadiums. They return to biding their time until people decide that they are once again worth our attention.
This is where we go wrong. The USWNT is consistently THE best women's team in the world. The US Men's National Team...not so much. In 2018, the USMNT failed to even qualify for the World Cup.
I have been a soccer fan since I was in third grade, and I played for years. I have nothing against the men's team, and I'm actually a huge fan (Wil Trapp and Zach Steffan will always have my heart). But, I would consider myself an even bigger fan of the women's team. As a young girl, I idolized these women. I learned all of their names and jersey numbers and poured over the official team program.
When I attended a USWNT game in Columbus, Ohio in 7th grade, I was shocked—the stadium was 75% empty! I couldn't understand why more people weren't there to see these amazing soccer players. Now, five years later, I understand.
Our country will naturally turn more attention to men over women, because “it's how things have always been." Well, it's time to change the dynamic in our country. Here's why the women deserve our attention:
They have sheer talent.
With four Olympic gold medals and four World Cup championships, they have consistently proven that they can play the game, and they can play it well.
They fight for equality.
The USWNT is paid millions of dollars less than the men's team. When they had finally had enough, the women banded together to sue the organization that runs their entire lives. This took an incredible amount of courage and sisterhood.
They are incredible role models for young girls.
In an age where social media runs the world and Photoshop and filters seem to flood our feeds, these women are completely real. They are strong, athletic, and not afraid to be authentically themselves in front of the entire world.
They are tough, inspiring, kind, outgoing, talented, motivated, persistent, courageous, silly, relatable, and the best in the world at what they do.
These women have proven that they deserve our attention with their championship win. But they shouldn't have to prove that they deserve our attention. They should already have it.
