USWNT Win World Cup for the Fourth Time. Pay up US Soccer.

USWNT Win World Cup Against Netherlands

They did it again! It was spectacular watching another USWNT World Cup win. Megan Rapinoe was calm and collected and Rose Lavelle was sensational. This team and this nation’s women are the best at soccer.

The USWNT have four World Cup victories. But U.S. Soccer has dragged it’s feet in paying them what they deserve. Honestly, what more do they have to do to earn equal pay?

This Isn’t New. USWNT Win World Cup after World Cup

Unlike women’s soccer, the first men’s World Cup was in 1930. The USMNT had 21 opportunities since 1930 to qualify and play in World Cups. Still, they only qualified for ten World Cups. Since their third-place finish in 1930, their best finish is eighth. To call the USMNT lackluster is, to say the least.

Much different to the USMNT is the USWNT. Today, the USWNT won their fourth World Cup title, in just eight World Cups. It’s absolutely incredible. In 50-percent of Women’s World Cups, the USWNT walk away with the trophy. And this doesn’t even count the four Olympic Gold Medals the USWNT have. In just six Summer Olympics, they’ve won it all four times. So, in 14 Women’s World Cups and Summer Olympics, the US Women were victorious eight times. Eight times! Success like this is unheard of in any other sport.

Breaking Records Left and Right

Recall the 12 records and stats that displayed how truly amazing the USWNT is.

That was before today’s USWNT World Cup win. Now, they’ve further extended and set even more records. This win marks 12 consecutive World Cup match wins, which surpasses the 2002-2006 Brazilian men. They also surpassed the 1999 USWNT and 2003 German women for most goals in a Women’s World Cup tournament. Wins, goals, appearances, titles. Whatever the category of success is, the USWNT is at the top.

Viewership and Revenue

Revenue is always the argument when people rationalize paying women less. Men just generate more financially, right? Wrong. That may have been the case prior to the 2015 World Cup Win, but it’s not anymore. Since then, according to a recent Wall Street Journal report, “U.S. women’s games generated more total revenue than U.S. men’s games”. The USWNT stadium home kit is also Nike’s best online-selling jersey in a single-season.

Additionally, even before any number from the 2019 Women’s World Cup Final comes out, the 2015 Women’s World Cup Final already holds the record for the most-viewed soccer game in the U.S. So, let’s get this straight. They get the best views. Their views generate more income. And the USWNT are the top-selling national team, men’s or women’s.

Without a doubt, the USWNT deserve to be paid more than the USMNT. But, at a minimum, U.S. Soccer needs to pay them equally. It’s the justice they earned.