Never has a group of women been so bold in their success—so out in their success—as the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team. Individually these 23 women are top-of-their-game athletes, but put them together on the world stage and they are a force of nature. Basically, they’re the girl gang 2019 needs.
It was clear these women were out to save the world in March when—on International Women’s Day—the entire team sued the U.S. Soccer Federation for gender discrimination. They were paid “substantially less” than men in the sport, they alleged, according to an official complaint filed with the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission in 2016. But over the past three years, their games have reportedly generated more cold, hard cash than the men’s games, according to financial reports from U.S. Soccer obtained by the Wall Street Journal. This team is proof: Investing in women pays.
When the USWNT won the World Cup this month, the stadium erupted into a chant: “Equal pay! Equal pay!” It likely won’t be long before they get it.
These women are role models not just for what it looks like to win (read dominate) in 2019, but what it looks like to enjoy it. Megan Rapinoe popping champagne at the World Cup victory parade and saying most matter-of-factly, “I deserve this,” is a MOOD. She does deserve this—we all do, dammit.
Throughout the tournament the team was criticized for celebrating its goals. In the women’s first game against Thailand, they broke the record for biggest World Cup victory with a final score of 13–0. You don’t have to know a damn thing about sports to know that’s epic. But some commentators—mostly male—had the nerve to suggest the women on the field should lay off. It was clear they had the Thai team beat, so why not stop scoring? Imagine a sports commentator telling LeBron to ease up.
Luckily, the USWNT paid no mind to the haters. Since their victory, their celebrations have been loud and proud—just as they should be. The age of women demurring in their accomplishments is over. Women have every right roar in their success.
“This group is so resilient, so tough, has such a sense of humor, is just so badass,” co-captain Megan Rapinoe said in a speech celebrating the USWNT victory. “There’s just nothing that can faze this group. We’re chillin’, we’re tea sippin’. We got pink hair, purple hair. We have tattoos, dreadlocks. We got white girls and black girls and everything in between. We got straight girls and gay girls. And I couldn’t be more proud.”
These women are role models for a dozen different reasons, but most of all for their ability to take a moment and turn it into a movement. Championships are won every day, but few teams have the power to turn their victories into real change—whether that’s by turning the opposition into teammates or inspiring a generation of women to be bolder and louder than ever before. “Yes, we’re female athletes, but we’re so much more than that. You’re so much more than that,” Rapinoe said. “Be more. Be better. Be bigger than you’ve ever been before.”
To the women of the USWNT: We love you. We need you. We’re roaring for you.
Macaela MacKenzie is a senior editor at Glamour. Follow her on Instagram at @MacaelaMac and Twitter at @MacaelaMack.
This year has made one thing clear: Women are showing up, stepping up, and taking what they deserve. From politics to pop culture, women aren't just leveling the playing field—they're owning it. As we ramp up to our annual Women of the Year summit, we will be highlighting women across industries who do the work every day. Whether it's the CEO of a multinational retail corporation, a James Beard Award–winning chef, or the World Cup champions, here are the women you need to know right now. First up: 10 profiles of women who are making their mark on the world of sports, where female athletes and businesswomen are fighting it out for championships, equal pay, and culture-shifting change. Spoiler alert: They're winning.
See all of the Glamour Women of the Year All Year: Sports.
