This archive report was first published on 11 July 2019.
On Wednesday, New York City honored the U.S. women's soccer team with a ticker-tape parade, celebrating their World Cup triumph and hailing their emergence as icons of women's rights. The parade, which took place in the city's financial district, was attended by thousands of fans who cheered on the team as they rode floats and waved to the crowd.
The team's 2-0 win over the Netherlands in the final match on Sunday capped a World Cup campaign that attracted vast television audiences, reflecting the popularity of a U.S. soccer team that has dominated international competition, winning a record fourth title.
Mayor Bill de Blasio presented the ceremonial keys to the city to the team, and star players Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, and Carli Lloyd thanked the country for supporting the team. Rapinoe, the tournament's top scorer, also used the opportunity to advocate for equal pay and social justice, saying, “Make this world a better place,” and “Love more, hate less.”
However, not everyone was supportive of the team's message. A few spectators waved “Trump 2020” flags and one held a sign calling Rapinoe an “America hater,” an apparent reference to her refusal to put a hand over her heart when the U.S. national anthem was played during the World Cup.
The parade was also a celebration of the team's fight for equal pay with the U.S. men's national team. In March, all 28 players on the women's team filed a gender discrimination lawsuit against the U.S. Soccer Federation, demanding equal compensation with their male counterparts who earn much a higher base pay.
Hours after the ceremony, U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Patty Murray, both Democrats, introduced a bill requiring equal pay and compensation for all U.S. national athletes. The bill aims to address the pay disparity between male and female athletes in the United States.
