So, just this once the “S” stands for “Sporty” and not “Straight” because, um – well, you know. The United States Women’s National Team opened their FIFA World Cup play with a 13-0 route of Thailand. A few naysayers said the ladies shouldn’t have run up the score like that. But 1) This is Group Round play so scores freaking matter, and the more you score the better you have a chance of moving to the next round, and 2) When do they ever ask male athletes playing at the highest level to take it down a notch?
Oh, yeah… Never.
Instead this opening match was yet another example of the startling performance vs. pay wage gap between men’s and women’s sports. The record-setting game for the USWNT was:
- The most goals ever in a Women’s or Men’s World Cup Game (13)In the last 17 years (between June 2002 and 2019), the USMNT has scored 12 goals in all its games of World Cup play.
- Tied the most goals scored by a man or woman in a World Cup game (5 for Alex Morgan)
- The most ever second-half goals scored in a Women’s or Men’s World Cup Game (10)
Meanwhile, in under two hours this past Tuesday the USWNT scored 13 points in one game World Cup Play.
All this, of course, makes it all the more galling that the women’s national team makes so much less than the men’s national team. Like much, much less.
Bottom line: Women’s sports are exciting. Women athletes are exceptional. Women athletes deserve equal pay. Period.
And, just in case, this is how female members of the USWNT hug each other (with their legs in friendship and otherwise) when they score. And, I think we can all agree we’d like to see a lot more of that.
p.s. Special shout out to the out members of the USWNT (remember, I said out): Coach Jill Ellis, Forward Megan Rapinoe, Defender Ali Krieger and Goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris.
The media's reaction to a stellar, and record setting performance, has been despicable.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations USA , I love watching them playing soccer. I've been watching a lot of matches at the World Cup and enjoy every moment watching all the talented women. South Africa is taking part in our first world cup and I'm so proud of them.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Hope Solo about this. Win with dignity, not high kicks on the sideline.
ReplyDelete"Scoring 13 against Thailand was great, some of the US celebrations were not -- Hope Solo
Carli Lloyd’s sympathy with the Thai goalkeeper was a far better expression of what the US team are about than any choreographed celebrations"
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jun/12/usa-thailand-womens-world-cup-soccer-celebrations
The 31 out players of the World Cup
ReplyDeletehttps://www.outsports.com/2019/6/11/18660301/out-gay-lesbian-bi-2019-women-world-cup-soccer
Love reading your column Dorothy, but...
ReplyDelete13 POINTS??
Also rest assured goal difference rarely comes into the reckoning in a four team (3 matches each) group stage- it tends to matter across a league season with a number of matches, ie 36 matches is typical in a European league season.
I don't know what the USA team were being asked to take down a notch in this instance but if it's the celebrations, not the performance, trust me that IS very much expected in the men's game, a male team would be criticised for over celebrating a rout.
As for the pay gap, I'm all for women's football and all sports, but here in Europe a significant pay gap is very much justified although the men do earn grossly large sum. Women's football has a long way to go here.
13-0 is rubbing it in. Doesn't matter what your gender is there will be critics. This is the equivalent of an 90 point lead in the NFL or a 20 run lead in MLB. At some point you respect your opponent and don't want to embarrass them or show them up.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't read criticism that the USA team shouldn't have scored, just that they oughtn't have done the full-on celebrations after every goal. It's kinda graceless against a team that is mainly made up of amateurs.
ReplyDelete