Why the US Team’s Victory Goes Beyond Soccer

Earlier today, John wrote a great article about what America’s victory means to little girls across the world. While I do agree with his article, I think the US team’s victory in France goes beyond the world of soccer.

Celebrations

Men in soccer celebrate. They rip their shirts off, flex their muscles, and go crazy when they score. When women do the same thing they get blasted for it on social media. However, one of the most iconic celebrations in any sport comes from Brandi Chastain in the 1999 World Cup after scoring a PK to win.

That is one way this team has already impacted the world around them. You could tell they were out there having fun. Alex Morgan sipping her tea. Megan Rapinoe’s “look at me” pose. These celebrations will go down in history. Not necessarily for the celebrations themselves. Some people didn’t like Morgan or Rapinoe’s celebrations. People took issue with the team celebrating after going up 13-0 on Thailand. However, this should be a nonissue. These athletes have worked their entire lives to reach the top. Once they reach the summit, they have every right to flex on the doubters and the other team. If you take offense to the celebrations, don’t give up the goals.

Politics

I try to keep politics out of my articles, but with this team it’s hard to do. At the same time, that is not a bad thing. Megan Rapinoe was blasted because when asked if she was excited about potentially going to the White House, she scoffed and said, “I’m not going to the fucking White House.” People thought this was ridiculous because the US team had not won anything when she said this. This is an absurd thing to be upset by; she was asked, and responded. However, outside of this instance, it also goes into the “shut up and play” argument.

A lot of people think that, as athletes, they cannot talk about politics. Outside of the fact this is a protected right under the Constitution, I will agree to that sentiment, with one stipulation. If you think, because of their career, athletes should not talk about politics, no one should. Accountants, engineers, coal miners, retail workers, anyone not directly involved in politics, should not talk about them. See how ridiculous that sounds? Prohibiting one specific profession from talking about something that impacts them as US citizens? If they are informed, let them talk about it. Even if they are uninformed, it is their right as a citizen of the United States to talk about it. Therefore, let them talk anyway.

Women’s Sports

In this country, like many others, women’s sports are not as popular. The WNBA, the National Women’s Soccer League, and the National Women’s Hockey League do not garner nearly as much attention as their male counterparts. However, the US team’s victory goes beyond soccer and will change that narrative. How? In two ways.

Playing With Emotion

Earlier, I talked about celebrations. That is part of it. When a man celebrates and gets emotional, he is “intense” and just “loves the game.” When a woman plays with emotion, she is just that: emotional. By showing a team celebrating and having fun doing what they love on the grandest stage, it draws attention. People think the women’s leagues aren’t “as exciting.” I disagree, but even if you think that, watching an athlete celebrate, have fun, and be intense changes things. Viewers will draw off of that energy and become invested. Even with this change in attitude, there is another reason this mentality persists.

“The Talent Isn’t There”

There are people who believe the women’s leagues just don’t have the talent men’s leagues do. This World Cup team proved that’s incorrect. After watching the US team dominate for the past few years, I am positive they could beat the men’s team, and do it convincingly. If you disagree, rewatch the tape. During their game against Thailand, the women scored 13 goals. The men’s team scored 13 goals over the prior 379 days. This team is stacked from top to bottom, and plenty of other sports have great women players as well just waiting to show what they got.

The 2019 World Cup’s Legacy

As I said before, this US team’s victory goes beyond the soccer world. It even goes beyond the little girls watching at home. Yes, this is a monumental moment for them. They have idols to look up to now. However, there are other players to look up to playing professional sports today. This team has given other sports a chance to step into the limelight, and they’re waiting to capitalize.