Six days later, Harris and her teammates put their names to a lawsuit citing gender discrimination by the United States Soccer Foundation (USSF) and demanding equal pay with their male counterparts. That they chose to do so just three months out from the start of the Women’s World Cup in Paris was deliberate too, a reminder of their global stature in the sport. “I think to be on this team is to understand these issues,” said Megan Rapinoe in the New York Times. For reaching the second round of the 2014 World Cup in South Africa, Jurgen Klinsmann’s squad received performance bonuses totalling $5,375,000. When Rapinoe bulwarked the women’s team that captivated the nation and brought home the trophy 12 months later, their reward was to be given $1,725,000 and then to be dispatched on a money-spinning nationwide 10-game victory tour.

Source: The Irish Times March 13, 2019 18:00 UTC