In a pointed message about unequal pay, the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team wore their warm-up jerseys inside out during the national anthem before their match against Japan on Wednesday.
When worn inside out, U.S. Soccer Federation’s logo is obscured, but the four stars ― representing each of the team’s World Cup victories ― remain visible.
The players reversed their uniforms back to normal for the game, the final match of the SheBelieves Cup tournament (which they won).
Unity. 4 stars only. Who's with us? pic.twitter.com/AYv2YlcSl7
— USWNT Players (@USWNTPlayers) March 12, 2020
The USWNT has taken the field with their warm up jerseys inside out, hiding the US Soccer crest.
This is in response to the latest legal filings by the US Soccer Federation in the gender discrimination lawsuit filed by 28 US players. (@espnW) pic.twitter.com/BTZgYeeNMD
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 12, 2020
Looking at ISI Photos and saw that #USWNT players have all taken the field wearing their warm-up jerseys inside out, hiding the U.S. Soccer crest... but not the four stars.
Yeah, that feels intentional.
Brad Smith/ISI pic.twitter.com/rGEiYghZfb
— Meg Linehan (@itsmeglinehan) March 11, 2020
Last year, 28 members of the team filed a lawsuit demanding equal pay and benefits that are offered to the men’s team.
U.S. Soccer Federation President Carlos Cordeiro apologized Wednesday after facing backlash over court documents that were published by BuzzFeed News. The court filings showed that attorneys for the U.S. Soccer Federation claimed the women’s team should not be paid equally because the men’s national soccer team players carried “more responsibility” and possessed greater skill than their female counterparts.
While the men’s national team has never won an international title, the women’s team are four-time Olympic gold medallists and World Cup champs. Despite being more successful, women’s players make an average of $30,000 less than the men and receive significantly smaller bonuses for World Cup participation.
Sponsors, including Deloitte and Coca-Cola, called the comments in the filing “unacceptable and offensive.”
Women’s team co-captain Megan Rapinoe rejected Cordeiro’s apology:
Rapinoe on US Soccer prez Carlos Cordeiro’s apology, released near the end of the #USWNT’s win over Japan in the #SheBelievesCup:
“We don’t buy it....That wasn’t for us. That was for fans, media, sponsors...every negotiation, those undertones are there, that we’re lesser.” pic.twitter.com/zsuNiF28M5
— Sam Khan Jr. (@skhanjr) March 12, 2020
Rapinoe also took to Twitter Wednesday to mock the comments about female players’ lesser skills and responsibilities:
Imagine. https://t.co/pIVSYTI8gx pic.twitter.com/baCcU4Q2qD
— Megan Rapinoe (@mPinoe) March 12, 2020
Imagine. https://t.co/pIVSYTI8gx pic.twitter.com/FnEBQiHSTV
— Megan Rapinoe (@mPinoe) March 12, 2020
Imagine. https://t.co/MVbFwL1edV
— Megan Rapinoe (@mPinoe) March 12, 2020