1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:02,840 Speaker 1: Long Shot is a production of McClatchy Studios and I 2 00:00:02,920 --> 00:00:08,720 Speaker 1: Heart Radio. Previously on Payback, she was like, Wow, I've 3 00:00:08,720 --> 00:00:11,799 Speaker 1: got a text to Joel. I got invited into November Camp. 4 00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:15,960 Speaker 1: How to think about Jeremiah though, don't worry about Jeremiah. 5 00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:20,200 Speaker 1: Go down into the box. She found she had to 6 00:00:20,200 --> 00:00:22,919 Speaker 1: be the m VP that catacolder to the national team, 7 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:25,639 Speaker 1: which she still had to do something amazing. I'm the 8 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:29,040 Speaker 1: only mom this underdog with chip on her shoulder. I 9 00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:44,960 Speaker 1: was doing it for my kid. For almost as long 10 00:00:45,040 --> 00:00:48,040 Speaker 1: as there's been a US women's national team, there's been 11 00:00:48,040 --> 00:00:53,320 Speaker 1: a chant that goes with it. Yeah. Great. The USA 12 00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:57,680 Speaker 1: chant dates back at the team's debut tournament in Italy. 13 00:00:58,880 --> 00:01:01,800 Speaker 1: The Italian fans were so taken with the upstart Americans 14 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:05,160 Speaker 1: they began chanting in support of the USA, which they 15 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:12,200 Speaker 1: pronounced USA. For almost forty years, that chant has been 16 00:01:12,240 --> 00:01:15,160 Speaker 1: the way the US women break their pregame huddles, and 17 00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:18,320 Speaker 1: at the World Cup, Jesse's team was the latest to 18 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:21,400 Speaker 1: embrace that connection with the past as the U S 19 00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:24,440 Speaker 1: women prepared for one of their toughest international competitions. Yet 20 00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:26,600 Speaker 1: it was also a way the team brought its focus 21 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:29,560 Speaker 1: back to what was happening on the field. Because not 22 00:01:29,640 --> 00:01:31,679 Speaker 1: only did Jess and her teammates have a tradition of 23 00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:34,760 Speaker 1: winning to uphold, but they're in France, they faced a 24 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:37,920 Speaker 1: global media blitz no women's soccer team had ever seen before. 25 00:01:39,520 --> 00:01:42,959 Speaker 1: Three court documents reveal why US Soccer says women should 26 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:45,520 Speaker 1: not get paid as much as men. I can't believe 27 00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:49,280 Speaker 1: us are actually put these u been floated from the 28 00:01:49,360 --> 00:01:53,560 Speaker 1: Charlotte Observer, Raleigh News, An Observer, McClatchy Studios, and I 29 00:01:53,640 --> 00:01:58,480 Speaker 1: Heart Radio. This is Payback. I'm Alexandrea and this is 30 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:12,120 Speaker 1: part nine NASA. Do you women this morning? Negotiations breaking 31 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:15,560 Speaker 1: down between women soccer and the US Soccer Federation over 32 00:02:15,600 --> 00:02:19,760 Speaker 1: the fight for equal pay. That spring of around the 33 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:22,359 Speaker 1: same time Jess was named to the national team, it 34 00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:25,919 Speaker 1: seemed the entire country was talking about women's soccer. We've 35 00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:29,959 Speaker 1: filled stadiums, we've broken viewing records. Megan Rapino, a star 36 00:02:30,080 --> 00:02:33,119 Speaker 1: of the team, speaking to Congress on Equal pay Day, 37 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:36,359 Speaker 1: and yet despite all of this, we're still paid less 38 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:39,520 Speaker 1: than our male counterparts. I think equal pay is a 39 00:02:39,639 --> 00:02:43,640 Speaker 1: ridiculous concept and of itself. What Repino maybe unknowingly is 40 00:02:43,639 --> 00:02:47,280 Speaker 1: saying there is this is an economic conversation. If it 41 00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:50,640 Speaker 1: can happen to me, it can and it does happen 42 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:57,040 Speaker 1: to every person who is marginalized by gender. Five members 43 00:02:57,040 --> 00:02:59,440 Speaker 1: of the women's national team had failed to complaint against 44 00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:03,280 Speaker 1: US Soccer with the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, citing 45 00:03:03,320 --> 00:03:06,880 Speaker 1: wage discrimination, the first time in history pro athletes had 46 00:03:06,880 --> 00:03:09,880 Speaker 1: done so. Movement was slow on that complaint for the 47 00:03:09,919 --> 00:03:13,840 Speaker 1: next three years, but in early the Commission issued letters 48 00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:15,760 Speaker 1: to the players granting them the right to sue in 49 00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:21,079 Speaker 1: federal court. So on International Women's Day twenty eight, members 50 00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:25,040 Speaker 1: of the U S women's national team, including Jess, escalated 51 00:03:25,040 --> 00:03:28,120 Speaker 1: the fight. They sued their parents US Soccer Federation in 52 00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:32,519 Speaker 1: California District Court over what the players described as institutionalized 53 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:38,800 Speaker 1: gender discrimination. It certainly is discrimination based on gender. If 54 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:42,920 Speaker 1: the men one as much as the women have won, 55 00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:47,880 Speaker 1: the men would make four times the amount as the women. 56 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:51,200 Speaker 1: Molly Levinson and her PR firm have represented the women 57 00:03:51,240 --> 00:03:55,000 Speaker 1: of the U S national team, since, if you put 58 00:03:55,080 --> 00:03:58,520 Speaker 1: that in different terms, a woman in the workforce needs 59 00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:04,000 Speaker 1: to be three times as successful to make almost as 60 00:04:04,120 --> 00:04:07,440 Speaker 1: much as her male colleagues, and that just doesn't work. 61 00:04:08,160 --> 00:04:10,560 Speaker 1: The lawsuit was headed up by team leaders Alex Morgan, 62 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:14,960 Speaker 1: Becky Sawer Brun, Carly Lloyd, and Megan Rapino. Pino is 63 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:16,640 Speaker 1: really the one that really stood up and was like, 64 00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:20,359 Speaker 1: look and this is what's happening. Jess had only just 65 00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:22,600 Speaker 1: been named the World Cup team roster when she was 66 00:04:22,640 --> 00:04:26,280 Speaker 1: approached to participate. We all knew kind of what was 67 00:04:26,320 --> 00:04:29,040 Speaker 1: happening already, and then she was like, look, we're filing 68 00:04:29,120 --> 00:04:32,920 Speaker 1: this lawsuit. Everyone on board. That first talk was just 69 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:36,000 Speaker 1: so powerful, and I learned so much with our lawyers 70 00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:39,280 Speaker 1: coming in meeting with us, and so I looked at 71 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:41,800 Speaker 1: the numbers and I'm like, ho, holy crap, Yes, I'm 72 00:04:41,800 --> 00:04:45,440 Speaker 1: definitely signing this lawsuit. This is like not okay. In 73 00:04:45,480 --> 00:04:49,120 Speaker 1: the years since those US players had first filed their complaint, 74 00:04:49,720 --> 00:04:54,000 Speaker 1: the world had taken notice. FIFA soccer's global governing body 75 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:56,440 Speaker 1: had agreed to double the prize money for the upcoming 76 00:04:57,360 --> 00:05:03,760 Speaker 1: women's World Cup women's national team in Brazil, Argentina, Scotland, Ireland, 77 00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:08,120 Speaker 1: Nigeria and beyond had made their own public stance against 78 00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:12,440 Speaker 1: pay inequality. In Norway, his women's team often outperforms the 79 00:05:12,440 --> 00:05:15,200 Speaker 1: men's side became the first country to strike an equal 80 00:05:15,200 --> 00:05:18,760 Speaker 1: pay deal for both teams. What is so important to 81 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:21,560 Speaker 1: the players is that it goes so far beyond soccer. 82 00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:24,479 Speaker 1: This is not just about money, and it was never 83 00:05:24,640 --> 00:05:27,599 Speaker 1: just I mean, fundamentally, at the end of the day, 84 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:32,960 Speaker 1: what this lawsuit is about is generations and generations of 85 00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:40,400 Speaker 1: discrimination against women and recognizing that women should be paid 86 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:46,000 Speaker 1: and valued equally to men. This is a really fascinating, 87 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:49,760 Speaker 1: remarkable story. Here new court documents reveal why US Soccer 88 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:52,640 Speaker 1: says women should not get paid as much as men. 89 00:05:52,760 --> 00:05:55,400 Speaker 1: I can't believe US Soccer actually put these are that 90 00:05:55,440 --> 00:06:00,640 Speaker 1: should have been flowed out and started. US Soccer claimed 91 00:06:00,640 --> 00:06:02,839 Speaker 1: in court that the women's team wasn't really doing the 92 00:06:02,880 --> 00:06:06,320 Speaker 1: same job as the men because men's soccer required more 93 00:06:06,360 --> 00:06:10,159 Speaker 1: physical talent. The filing said that it is undisputed that 94 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:12,760 Speaker 1: the job of a men's player requires more strength and 95 00:06:12,839 --> 00:06:16,320 Speaker 1: speed than the job of a women's player. It also 96 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:19,520 Speaker 1: added that the job of men's national team players carries 97 00:06:19,520 --> 00:06:22,559 Speaker 1: more responsibility than the job of a women's national team player. 98 00:06:23,640 --> 00:06:27,479 Speaker 1: At the time, Molly Levinson described that argument as paleolithic. 99 00:06:28,320 --> 00:06:32,400 Speaker 1: Advertisers including Visa and Coca Cola, issued stinging rebukes against 100 00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:37,200 Speaker 1: US Soccer, calling the filing unacceptable and defensive, and if 101 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:40,320 Speaker 1: supporters of the players cause wanted a bad guy, they 102 00:06:40,320 --> 00:06:42,520 Speaker 1: found one in the president of US Soccer at the time, 103 00:06:42,960 --> 00:06:46,599 Speaker 1: Carlos cordierro Um. You know, we have we have sort 104 00:06:46,600 --> 00:06:49,560 Speaker 1: of felt that those are some of the undercurrent feelings 105 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:51,839 Speaker 1: UM that they've had for a long time. But to 106 00:06:51,839 --> 00:06:55,599 Speaker 1: to see that blatant misogyny and sexism as the argument 107 00:06:55,640 --> 00:06:59,840 Speaker 1: against us UM is really disappointing. Rapino gave this interview 108 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:03,640 Speaker 1: to Julie Foudy on ESPN shortly after the filing. I 109 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:06,440 Speaker 1: just want to say it's all false to every girl 110 00:07:06,480 --> 00:07:09,320 Speaker 1: out there, to every girl boy out there, Uh, you 111 00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:11,560 Speaker 1: are not lesser just because you are a girl. You 112 00:07:11,560 --> 00:07:13,360 Speaker 1: are not better just because you're a boy. We are 113 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:15,880 Speaker 1: all creative, equal and should all have the equal opportunity 114 00:07:16,120 --> 00:07:20,360 Speaker 1: to go out and pursue our dreams. Rapinos thoughts for 115 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:23,480 Speaker 1: a striking resemblance to what Foudy herself had once said, 116 00:07:23,960 --> 00:07:26,800 Speaker 1: as your ninety nine is battled for recognition. It was 117 00:07:26,880 --> 00:07:29,240 Speaker 1: kind of the mentality of just be grateful you even 118 00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:32,160 Speaker 1: have a girl's team, Grateful you get to put on 119 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:34,920 Speaker 1: the red White and blue and sit down, sister. There 120 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:37,520 Speaker 1: was just a level of disrespect. We thought too and 121 00:07:37,560 --> 00:07:41,120 Speaker 1: that what we're asking for is not a lot. But 122 00:07:41,200 --> 00:07:44,320 Speaker 1: it turns out how much is a lot and when 123 00:07:44,360 --> 00:07:48,400 Speaker 1: things are actually equal can be surprisingly complicated to decide. 124 00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:58,040 Speaker 1: We'll explain after the break. We should back up a 125 00:07:58,040 --> 00:08:03,920 Speaker 1: little bit here from the lawsuit because context is important. Seen. 126 00:08:04,200 --> 00:08:06,880 Speaker 1: Two years before the lawsuit and around the same time 127 00:08:06,960 --> 00:08:09,600 Speaker 1: Jess was invited to her first national team camp, the 128 00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:12,760 Speaker 1: US women's soccer team players signed a collective bargaining agreement 129 00:08:12,760 --> 00:08:17,520 Speaker 1: with US Soccer. By seen that was relatively routine. The 130 00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:19,960 Speaker 1: ninety had fought for the players first cb A in 131 00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:23,440 Speaker 1: two thousand. The cb A signed in seventeen was the 132 00:08:23,480 --> 00:08:26,600 Speaker 1: fourth time the players had signed a new contract. First off, 133 00:08:26,840 --> 00:08:32,120 Speaker 1: congrats you, how did you celebrate the moment? This is 134 00:08:32,200 --> 00:08:36,600 Speaker 1: Julie Foudy on ESPN back in talking to members of 135 00:08:36,600 --> 00:08:39,960 Speaker 1: the women's national team, including Megan Rapino. It was just 136 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:42,000 Speaker 1: like one of those moments where like, is this real? 137 00:08:42,120 --> 00:08:46,200 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, is this the start to a movement? You think? 138 00:08:46,520 --> 00:08:48,920 Speaker 1: I think we're in the middle of the movement. Just 139 00:08:49,320 --> 00:08:53,760 Speaker 1: in general, women are sick and tired of coming second 140 00:08:53,920 --> 00:08:58,080 Speaker 1: all the time, but the very act of signing that 141 00:08:58,160 --> 00:09:01,440 Speaker 1: contract complicated things for the national team players who joined 142 00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:05,440 Speaker 1: the gender discrimination lawsuit two years later. US Soccer is 143 00:09:05,520 --> 00:09:10,280 Speaker 1: absolutely committed to equal pay for the women's national team. 144 00:09:10,320 --> 00:09:12,840 Speaker 1: It's something that we've said publicly. It's something that we've 145 00:09:12,840 --> 00:09:16,320 Speaker 1: said to them. This is Jamie from the law firm 146 00:09:16,400 --> 00:09:19,319 Speaker 1: Latham and Watkins. Her firm was brought in to represent 147 00:09:19,440 --> 00:09:22,640 Speaker 1: US Soccer after the federation's prior legal team submitted that 148 00:09:22,679 --> 00:09:25,959 Speaker 1: disastrous filing which said in so many words that men's 149 00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:29,240 Speaker 1: soccer required more skill than the women's game. The women 150 00:09:29,280 --> 00:09:32,840 Speaker 1: were empowered to negotiate their own contract and the contract 151 00:09:32,880 --> 00:09:35,560 Speaker 1: that they wanted, and it's interesting to look back at 152 00:09:35,600 --> 00:09:38,640 Speaker 1: the time after they negotiated the contract that they now 153 00:09:38,679 --> 00:09:41,439 Speaker 1: say does not provide them equal pay, they were very 154 00:09:41,440 --> 00:09:44,240 Speaker 1: happy with that contract because it actually got them what 155 00:09:44,280 --> 00:09:46,400 Speaker 1: they wanted. It wasn't just a carbon copy of the 156 00:09:46,440 --> 00:09:53,440 Speaker 1: men collective bargaining agreement contained many different financial components outlining 157 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:56,920 Speaker 1: everything from travel accommodations to player per deems, but the 158 00:09:56,960 --> 00:10:00,240 Speaker 1: headline generating rallying cry of equal pay was the emory 159 00:10:00,320 --> 00:10:04,000 Speaker 1: public measuring stick. Even if the players themselves acknowledge back 160 00:10:04,040 --> 00:10:07,760 Speaker 1: then that the issue was more complex. We're trying to 161 00:10:07,760 --> 00:10:09,760 Speaker 1: figure out where women's soccer is going, and so we 162 00:10:09,840 --> 00:10:12,160 Speaker 1: might not have the same exact structure as the men. 163 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:15,960 Speaker 1: Here's Becky Serbrun talking to soccer writer Grant Wall back 164 00:10:15,960 --> 00:10:19,560 Speaker 1: in she was one of the leading US player representatives 165 00:10:19,640 --> 00:10:23,880 Speaker 1: for those CBA negotiations, and so equal isn't the right word. 166 00:10:23,920 --> 00:10:26,480 Speaker 1: It would be equitable because we are asking for a 167 00:10:26,480 --> 00:10:32,600 Speaker 1: different structure. In the cb A signed, the women negotiated 168 00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:35,760 Speaker 1: for an increased based salary and better performance bonuses for 169 00:10:35,840 --> 00:10:40,160 Speaker 1: success on the field. Beyond that, these secured improvements and 170 00:10:40,160 --> 00:10:43,320 Speaker 1: travel conditions and an ongoing commitment by US Soccer to 171 00:10:43,360 --> 00:10:47,480 Speaker 1: support the NWSL at the time the deal was trumpeted, 172 00:10:47,559 --> 00:10:51,040 Speaker 1: is a symbolic step forward for women everywhere, including by 173 00:10:51,040 --> 00:10:55,560 Speaker 1: Megan Rapino in that ESPN conversation with Julie Foudy. Congrats. 174 00:10:56,960 --> 00:10:58,600 Speaker 1: It was just like one of those moments where like 175 00:10:58,920 --> 00:11:03,240 Speaker 1: this is real. Oh yeah. But in my conversations with 176 00:11:03,320 --> 00:11:06,880 Speaker 1: Molly Levinson, the player's pr representative, she cautioned that some 177 00:11:06,960 --> 00:11:10,400 Speaker 1: of that fanfare had been premature US Soccer alleges that 178 00:11:10,400 --> 00:11:13,040 Speaker 1: the women were indeed offered the same pay structure as 179 00:11:13,040 --> 00:11:16,079 Speaker 1: the men, but the women's team maintains that even if 180 00:11:16,080 --> 00:11:20,000 Speaker 1: that structure was offered, the physical dollars were not. They 181 00:11:20,040 --> 00:11:25,360 Speaker 1: went into collective bargaining understanding that their value was being 182 00:11:25,520 --> 00:11:30,200 Speaker 1: perceived or being recognized as less throughout the entire bargaining 183 00:11:30,640 --> 00:11:34,480 Speaker 1: So that was very clear, very understood for months and 184 00:11:34,559 --> 00:11:40,439 Speaker 1: months through that CBA negotiation. There can still be toscriminatory 185 00:11:40,559 --> 00:11:44,560 Speaker 1: pay even if an employee has agreed to it. That's 186 00:11:44,559 --> 00:11:48,840 Speaker 1: been a consistent theme across generations of the women's national team. 187 00:11:48,960 --> 00:11:51,920 Speaker 1: Throughout my reporting for this podcast, I interviewed players from 188 00:11:51,920 --> 00:11:54,600 Speaker 1: almost every era of the national team, and what always 189 00:11:54,640 --> 00:11:56,880 Speaker 1: struck me is, in some ways, how little seems to 190 00:11:56,920 --> 00:12:00,760 Speaker 1: have changed. I really did puck it up at least 191 00:12:00,800 --> 00:12:03,680 Speaker 1: at that point, to being really like young and naive 192 00:12:03,960 --> 00:12:08,880 Speaker 1: and not understanding the way things worked, and probably being 193 00:12:09,360 --> 00:12:13,559 Speaker 1: grateful for the idea of playing. Danielle Slayton was a 194 00:12:13,559 --> 00:12:15,360 Speaker 1: member of the U S national team in the early 195 00:12:15,400 --> 00:12:18,760 Speaker 1: two thousand's when they signed that very first collective bargaining agreement, 196 00:12:19,320 --> 00:12:22,600 Speaker 1: and today Slaton is a commentator for Fox Sports, including 197 00:12:22,600 --> 00:12:25,959 Speaker 1: at the Women's World Cup. What makes me so frustrated 198 00:12:26,000 --> 00:12:29,200 Speaker 1: with myself is like, that's the exact argument that I 199 00:12:29,280 --> 00:12:32,560 Speaker 1: hear people say to these women that, like, you're making 200 00:12:32,600 --> 00:12:34,719 Speaker 1: way more than they did before. It's still not a 201 00:12:34,760 --> 00:12:37,120 Speaker 1: living wage. Don't pay attention to that, but you should 202 00:12:37,160 --> 00:12:40,240 Speaker 1: just be happy to be here. Like that's not fair, 203 00:12:40,320 --> 00:12:43,000 Speaker 1: it's not right. I think the Me Too movement had 204 00:12:43,040 --> 00:12:45,880 Speaker 1: a big role to play and in the way that 205 00:12:45,960 --> 00:12:49,440 Speaker 1: we look at women and value women and respect women 206 00:12:49,559 --> 00:12:51,800 Speaker 1: in our country. And so I think that we're in 207 00:12:51,840 --> 00:12:54,920 Speaker 1: a time right now when things are moving quickly and 208 00:12:55,040 --> 00:12:59,920 Speaker 1: big jumps are possible. Slaton made to keep point during 209 00:13:00,000 --> 00:13:03,480 Speaker 1: our conversation. As much as the US Players have often 210 00:13:03,520 --> 00:13:06,640 Speaker 1: been standard bears for women's equality in this country, they're 211 00:13:06,640 --> 00:13:10,200 Speaker 1: also a product of large American culture, and in some 212 00:13:10,280 --> 00:13:13,280 Speaker 1: real ways, the country found itself in a very different 213 00:13:13,320 --> 00:13:16,360 Speaker 1: place on gender equality just two years after the players 214 00:13:16,360 --> 00:13:21,280 Speaker 1: signed b A. Harvey wine Steine is in handcuffs that 215 00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:23,640 Speaker 1: a scrace Hollywood producers to render to police in your 216 00:13:24,080 --> 00:13:29,199 Speaker 1: indelible in the hippocampus is the laughter a judge in 217 00:13:29,240 --> 00:13:32,680 Speaker 1: Pennsylvania has just sentenced Bill Cosby. You bragged that you 218 00:13:32,679 --> 00:13:35,079 Speaker 1: have sexually assaulted women. Do you understand that you know 219 00:13:35,160 --> 00:13:37,480 Speaker 1: I didn't say that at all. I don't think you understood. 220 00:13:37,760 --> 00:13:42,880 Speaker 1: She was worn, she was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted, 221 00:13:45,120 --> 00:13:47,600 Speaker 1: I don't think progress happens in a straight line or 222 00:13:47,640 --> 00:13:50,840 Speaker 1: you know, in a linear fashion slate. And again, I 223 00:13:50,840 --> 00:13:53,479 Speaker 1: mean like this is when they talk about like systematic 224 00:13:53,600 --> 00:13:56,200 Speaker 1: racism or systematic oppression, Like we have to find a 225 00:13:56,240 --> 00:14:00,160 Speaker 1: way to take the steps to actually change the system. 226 00:14:00,160 --> 00:14:02,840 Speaker 1: And that's where the onus is going to be on 227 00:14:03,120 --> 00:14:07,480 Speaker 1: organizations like US Soccer or gosh, any huge organization that 228 00:14:07,520 --> 00:14:11,840 Speaker 1: employs women, which is um everyone, whether it's instituting policies, 229 00:14:12,280 --> 00:14:16,240 Speaker 1: actually making you know, law changes, and then having the 230 00:14:16,280 --> 00:14:20,240 Speaker 1: continual pressure of the women's national team raising the flag 231 00:14:20,280 --> 00:14:23,440 Speaker 1: when things aren't fair, and the public continuing to follow 232 00:14:23,480 --> 00:14:27,280 Speaker 1: along and voice their opinion too. Even though the players 233 00:14:27,320 --> 00:14:31,800 Speaker 1: agreed to the CBA in federal complaint with the e 234 00:14:31,960 --> 00:14:37,080 Speaker 1: o C was still being investigated. So emboldened by the 235 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:40,720 Speaker 1: ongoing national conversations around equality and given the green light 236 00:14:40,800 --> 00:14:43,600 Speaker 1: by the e o C to see their employers, that's 237 00:14:43,600 --> 00:14:46,240 Speaker 1: exactly what the women's players did just ahead of the 238 00:14:46,280 --> 00:14:51,000 Speaker 1: World Cup. Regardless of c b A, if they make 239 00:14:51,040 --> 00:14:55,600 Speaker 1: the World Cup, roster female players received of what their 240 00:14:55,640 --> 00:15:00,400 Speaker 1: male counterparts earned. That's despite drawing crowds of similar eyes 241 00:15:00,520 --> 00:15:03,920 Speaker 1: and racking up on precedent achievements like their third World 242 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:08,440 Speaker 1: Cup trophy last summer. The players lawsuits said the women's 243 00:15:08,480 --> 00:15:12,640 Speaker 1: team often plays more games, wins more games, wins more championships, 244 00:15:13,080 --> 00:15:16,400 Speaker 1: and draws higher TV ratings than the US men. They 245 00:15:16,400 --> 00:15:18,800 Speaker 1: said their success and the women's team players were spending 246 00:15:18,800 --> 00:15:21,160 Speaker 1: more of their time on camps and national team commitments 247 00:15:21,200 --> 00:15:23,800 Speaker 1: each year than the men. The women said there was 248 00:15:23,840 --> 00:15:26,400 Speaker 1: still disparity in their travel and training conditions compared to 249 00:15:26,440 --> 00:15:29,960 Speaker 1: the men's team, including things like chartered flights, and that 250 00:15:30,080 --> 00:15:33,480 Speaker 1: US Soccer did not promote the women's matches equally and 251 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:36,440 Speaker 1: ask for an equal pay. One example the women sited 252 00:15:36,600 --> 00:15:41,280 Speaker 1: was pay for advancement through the World Cup. The men's 253 00:15:41,360 --> 00:15:43,760 Speaker 1: national team lost in the round of sixteen and was 254 00:15:43,800 --> 00:15:47,160 Speaker 1: paid more than five million dollars total. The next year, 255 00:15:47,520 --> 00:15:50,360 Speaker 1: the women's national team received less than two million for 256 00:15:50,480 --> 00:15:54,320 Speaker 1: winning the whole thing. The lawsuits said that in some years, 257 00:15:54,680 --> 00:15:57,440 Speaker 1: women on the national team stood to earn roughly of 258 00:15:57,440 --> 00:16:00,360 Speaker 1: what men's team players made, and the players saw sixty 259 00:16:00,440 --> 00:16:04,080 Speaker 1: six million dollars in damages. I think the advantage for 260 00:16:04,120 --> 00:16:07,240 Speaker 1: the women from a PR perspective is that they have 261 00:16:08,040 --> 00:16:11,600 Speaker 1: a very easy and likable slogan, which is that they 262 00:16:11,600 --> 00:16:15,000 Speaker 1: should get equal pay for equal work, and of course 263 00:16:15,360 --> 00:16:19,400 Speaker 1: everybody would agree with that. Jamie Wine again, I think 264 00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:23,320 Speaker 1: the nuance comes in, you know, once we all try 265 00:16:23,360 --> 00:16:26,840 Speaker 1: to figure out what that means. Does equal mean identical 266 00:16:27,520 --> 00:16:30,360 Speaker 1: or does equal mean, you know, equal in the sense 267 00:16:30,440 --> 00:16:32,760 Speaker 1: that both the men and the women are being treated 268 00:16:32,800 --> 00:16:36,200 Speaker 1: in a fair and equitable way. If you're interpreting equal 269 00:16:36,240 --> 00:16:39,040 Speaker 1: to be identical. They didn't want the men's structure at 270 00:16:39,040 --> 00:16:41,560 Speaker 1: that time. They wanted the structure that they got, and 271 00:16:41,560 --> 00:16:46,080 Speaker 1: they were happy with it. Currently, when athletes play in 272 00:16:46,120 --> 00:16:50,360 Speaker 1: World Cup Games, qualifiers, and non competitive friendly matches, they're 273 00:16:50,360 --> 00:16:54,040 Speaker 1: paid a base annual salary with potential bonuses for winning. 274 00:16:54,800 --> 00:16:57,960 Speaker 1: The biggest ongoing difference between the men's and women's contracts 275 00:16:58,360 --> 00:17:00,480 Speaker 1: has long been that the men's team wants a structure 276 00:17:00,480 --> 00:17:03,680 Speaker 1: built around larger bonuses for games played. The women's team 277 00:17:03,680 --> 00:17:06,600 Speaker 1: pushed for guaranteed salaries, and Jamie Wine told me that 278 00:17:06,640 --> 00:17:10,520 Speaker 1: a few years later the women's team's contract structure had 279 00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:13,600 Speaker 1: real life benefits when COVID shut down much of the 280 00:17:13,600 --> 00:17:16,920 Speaker 1: sports world. Neither the US men's or women's teams played 281 00:17:16,920 --> 00:17:19,640 Speaker 1: a game for almost nine months. That meant the men's 282 00:17:19,680 --> 00:17:22,320 Speaker 1: team players didn't receive any money from US Soccer during 283 00:17:22,320 --> 00:17:26,240 Speaker 1: that time because they didn't play. The US women, on 284 00:17:26,280 --> 00:17:29,439 Speaker 1: the other hand, received full salaries and benefits throughout that 285 00:17:29,480 --> 00:17:34,000 Speaker 1: period even without taking the field. And I think somewhat 286 00:17:34,040 --> 00:17:36,960 Speaker 1: ironic way the arguments that the women are now advancing 287 00:17:37,000 --> 00:17:40,040 Speaker 1: to the litigation, you know, it really takes away the 288 00:17:40,119 --> 00:17:43,760 Speaker 1: agency from these women to actually negotiate the deal on 289 00:17:43,840 --> 00:17:48,400 Speaker 1: the structure that they want. Molly Levinson, the women's player spokesperson, 290 00:17:48,680 --> 00:17:53,400 Speaker 1: disagrees there are women in workforces all around the world 291 00:17:53,760 --> 00:17:58,320 Speaker 1: who are getting paid less because they are women who 292 00:17:58,359 --> 00:18:02,919 Speaker 1: have still agreed to be paid less because of the 293 00:18:02,960 --> 00:18:07,200 Speaker 1: discriminatory environment that they're in. So it is not an 294 00:18:07,280 --> 00:18:12,560 Speaker 1: argument to say that it's legal to discriminate on the 295 00:18:12,680 --> 00:18:16,640 Speaker 1: basis of gender. If the women employees in the workplace 296 00:18:17,160 --> 00:18:21,639 Speaker 1: have agreed to be discriminated against, it's still not okay. 297 00:18:24,960 --> 00:18:28,000 Speaker 1: On the cusp of the World Cup, the women's lawsuit 298 00:18:28,080 --> 00:18:31,160 Speaker 1: catapulted Jests and her teammates into the public eye. They 299 00:18:31,160 --> 00:18:35,040 Speaker 1: were no longer simply captivating. They were polarizing. But the 300 00:18:35,080 --> 00:18:37,520 Speaker 1: women had learned something else from the generations of national 301 00:18:37,520 --> 00:18:41,520 Speaker 1: team players who had come before them. Nothing strengthens your 302 00:18:41,520 --> 00:18:55,760 Speaker 1: bargain position like crushing your opponents on the field. As 303 00:18:55,800 --> 00:18:58,439 Speaker 1: the US Women arrived in France, there were the biggest 304 00:18:58,440 --> 00:19:01,960 Speaker 1: stars in the World Cup, but for once, their domination 305 00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:06,000 Speaker 1: on the field was taking a backseat. Once we followed 306 00:19:06,000 --> 00:19:08,520 Speaker 1: the lawsuit, our goals to just like not even talk 307 00:19:08,560 --> 00:19:11,160 Speaker 1: about it until the World Cup was over. Here's Jess, 308 00:19:11,760 --> 00:19:14,280 Speaker 1: So we're like, we're filing, not even talking about it. 309 00:19:14,320 --> 00:19:15,800 Speaker 1: We need to prep for the World Cup. This is 310 00:19:15,840 --> 00:19:18,520 Speaker 1: our focus. People are gonna ask questions, don't answer them, 311 00:19:18,560 --> 00:19:20,960 Speaker 1: and we're gonna get through the World Cup and then 312 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:23,639 Speaker 1: we can focus on it. The past few months had 313 00:19:23,640 --> 00:19:26,560 Speaker 1: been a whirlwind, as Jess bounced from North Carolina to 314 00:19:26,680 --> 00:19:29,640 Speaker 1: training camps and back, living half her life at home 315 00:19:29,680 --> 00:19:32,639 Speaker 1: with Jeremiah and the Rockaways and the other half on 316 00:19:32,680 --> 00:19:39,199 Speaker 1: an airplane every month. From November, I missed between like 317 00:19:39,600 --> 00:19:42,720 Speaker 1: two and four weeks away from home every month because 318 00:19:42,760 --> 00:19:45,920 Speaker 1: we're prepping for the World Cup. And as the US 319 00:19:45,960 --> 00:19:48,160 Speaker 1: Women took the field against Thailand for their first game 320 00:19:48,200 --> 00:19:51,720 Speaker 1: of the tournament. Everything Jess and our teammates did suddenly 321 00:19:51,760 --> 00:19:57,879 Speaker 1: represented more than soccer in the largest margin of victory 322 00:19:57,920 --> 00:20:01,000 Speaker 1: ever for a World Cup game, Mail orphe no, the 323 00:20:01,080 --> 00:20:06,119 Speaker 1: US women beat Thailand to nothing. Sex The US women's 324 00:20:06,160 --> 00:20:10,320 Speaker 1: soccer team made World Cup history last night. There's scoring 325 00:20:10,359 --> 00:20:13,280 Speaker 1: more goals than any other team in the history of 326 00:20:13,320 --> 00:20:20,439 Speaker 1: the tournaments, the tournament's largest margin of victory ever. I 327 00:20:20,440 --> 00:20:23,080 Speaker 1: didn't have a problem with them scoring all these goals. 328 00:20:24,480 --> 00:20:29,160 Speaker 1: I had a problem with them celebrating all of these goals. 329 00:20:29,280 --> 00:20:31,800 Speaker 1: The remarkable win has put a different kind of goal 330 00:20:31,920 --> 00:20:35,439 Speaker 1: into the spotlight. The women's fight to be paid as 331 00:20:35,560 --> 00:20:39,399 Speaker 1: much as the men's team. Was that historic dropping of 332 00:20:39,440 --> 00:20:44,280 Speaker 1: Thailand empowering. We're simply ruthless. I mean, I think a 333 00:20:44,320 --> 00:20:46,399 Speaker 1: World Cup it is about competing. It is it is 334 00:20:46,440 --> 00:20:49,000 Speaker 1: about peaking. It is about priming your players ready for 335 00:20:49,040 --> 00:20:51,640 Speaker 1: the next games. Head coach Joe Ellis, after the game, 336 00:20:52,160 --> 00:20:54,800 Speaker 1: you play players that get hot, and if you can 337 00:20:54,800 --> 00:20:57,919 Speaker 1: get as many hot as you possibly can, feeling good, 338 00:20:58,040 --> 00:21:00,119 Speaker 1: feeling the back of the net. That's so important for 339 00:21:00,160 --> 00:21:02,520 Speaker 1: a full and for a midfield, or for anybody for 340 00:21:02,520 --> 00:21:05,120 Speaker 1: that matter. But I mean I'll be honest, I sit 341 00:21:05,160 --> 00:21:06,960 Speaker 1: here and I go if this is ten nil and 342 00:21:06,960 --> 00:21:08,840 Speaker 1: a men's World couple, we get in the same question, 343 00:21:08,920 --> 00:21:12,480 Speaker 1: to be quite honest, you know. In the second game 344 00:21:12,520 --> 00:21:14,920 Speaker 1: for the U S women, they faced off against Chile, 345 00:21:16,040 --> 00:21:19,160 Speaker 1: jess came on as a substitute after the hat, recording 346 00:21:19,160 --> 00:21:21,639 Speaker 1: her first playing time in a World Cup game and 347 00:21:21,720 --> 00:21:25,560 Speaker 1: making her presence felt. In the sixty two minute, jess 348 00:21:25,560 --> 00:21:27,720 Speaker 1: brought the ball up just inside the right hand side 349 00:21:27,720 --> 00:21:31,200 Speaker 1: of the penalty box, drew three defenders, and still found 350 00:21:31,240 --> 00:21:33,680 Speaker 1: space to rifle a shot to the far post past 351 00:21:33,760 --> 00:21:38,159 Speaker 1: goalkeeper christian Na drives off the post and looked like 352 00:21:38,359 --> 00:21:41,040 Speaker 1: just skive the hammer had her hand there, but I'm 353 00:21:41,040 --> 00:21:44,040 Speaker 1: not sure she got any of that. Jessie shop was stopped, 354 00:21:44,040 --> 00:21:45,720 Speaker 1: but the U S women still rolled to a three 355 00:21:45,760 --> 00:21:50,760 Speaker 1: nothing victory. One more win to nothing over Sweden took 356 00:21:50,760 --> 00:21:54,520 Speaker 1: the US into the knockout stage. In the round of sixteen, 357 00:21:54,760 --> 00:21:57,760 Speaker 1: the American women defeated Spain two to one, leading them 358 00:21:57,760 --> 00:22:02,360 Speaker 1: to the quarterfinals and a game against the host team. Yes, 359 00:22:08,640 --> 00:22:11,679 Speaker 1: Jesse become a reliable backup for the national team. On 360 00:22:11,720 --> 00:22:14,360 Speaker 1: the verge of achieving her lifelong dream. She wasn't sure 361 00:22:14,359 --> 00:22:16,879 Speaker 1: how much more game time she might see, but there 362 00:22:16,960 --> 00:22:19,159 Speaker 1: was no question. Just one of the Rockaways there for it. 363 00:22:19,760 --> 00:22:22,040 Speaker 1: We can't go for the whole time because it was 364 00:22:22,119 --> 00:22:25,520 Speaker 1: over weeks and weeks, so went for the quarterfinals. Here's 365 00:22:25,600 --> 00:22:29,960 Speaker 1: Dan Rockaway, Jesse's self proclaimed North Carolina dad, Jeremiah was 366 00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:32,879 Speaker 1: with us and we took Jeremiah over. They have a 367 00:22:32,960 --> 00:22:35,800 Speaker 1: family time for the team and it's every day at 368 00:22:35,840 --> 00:22:38,360 Speaker 1: a certain time. It's like an hour long, maybe two 369 00:22:38,359 --> 00:22:41,919 Speaker 1: hours the most. And I remember we went there and 370 00:22:41,960 --> 00:22:46,520 Speaker 1: I filmed Jeremiah sitting there and seeing his mom. In 371 00:22:46,560 --> 00:22:49,040 Speaker 1: the video, we see Jeremiah sitting on a couch and 372 00:22:49,040 --> 00:22:51,960 Speaker 1: sweatpants and a blue tshirt wearing a red Team USA 373 00:22:52,040 --> 00:22:55,680 Speaker 1: backpack that looks two sizes too big. Across the room, 374 00:22:55,920 --> 00:23:01,920 Speaker 1: he sees Jess come around the corner. Jeremiah races across 375 00:23:01,960 --> 00:23:04,800 Speaker 1: the room in about fifteen steps as Jeff scoops up 376 00:23:04,800 --> 00:23:07,720 Speaker 1: this bundle of boy and backpack and squeezes him type. 377 00:23:13,400 --> 00:23:15,240 Speaker 1: So I followed him and I went around and she 378 00:23:15,359 --> 00:23:17,159 Speaker 1: turned and you could see his face. He was like 379 00:23:17,280 --> 00:23:25,159 Speaker 1: in heaven. Oh. And I sent out to Jeff and 380 00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:27,479 Speaker 1: she posted it and then next thing you know if 381 00:23:27,480 --> 00:23:30,160 Speaker 1: you got like over a million views on Good Morning 382 00:23:30,200 --> 00:23:34,240 Speaker 1: America United, and it feels so good. The US women's 383 00:23:34,240 --> 00:23:37,520 Speaker 1: soccer team in the World Cup has everyone excited, but 384 00:23:37,640 --> 00:23:41,600 Speaker 1: perhaps no one is as thrilled as this little guide. 385 00:23:43,320 --> 00:23:45,720 Speaker 1: Jess and Jeremiah provided a moment of unity as the 386 00:23:45,760 --> 00:23:50,080 Speaker 1: team plunged into more controversy off the field, Because as 387 00:23:50,080 --> 00:23:51,760 Speaker 1: the U S Women tried to focus on winning a 388 00:23:51,800 --> 00:23:55,800 Speaker 1: fourth World Cup, there would be new distractions ahead. I'm 389 00:23:55,960 --> 00:24:00,639 Speaker 1: going to ask no, We'll get into that after the break. 390 00:24:09,840 --> 00:24:13,680 Speaker 1: We just expect to win every single game heading into 391 00:24:13,720 --> 00:24:17,080 Speaker 1: their quarterfinal matchup with France in France, if the U 392 00:24:17,160 --> 00:24:20,399 Speaker 1: S Women needed to court any more controversy, they got it. 393 00:24:20,400 --> 00:24:22,720 Speaker 1: When Megan Rippino gave an off the cuff interview to 394 00:24:22,760 --> 00:24:26,080 Speaker 1: Soccer magazine eight by eight, we have a great burden 395 00:24:26,119 --> 00:24:28,520 Speaker 1: of expectation, but I think that also brings out the 396 00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:31,920 Speaker 1: best in you. Given the US women's past success in 397 00:24:31,960 --> 00:24:34,760 Speaker 1: the World Cup and the tradition of US presidents inviting 398 00:24:34,800 --> 00:24:37,639 Speaker 1: championship teams to the White House, Rippino was asked if 399 00:24:37,640 --> 00:24:40,080 Speaker 1: she was already getting excited to visit Donald Trump's new home. 400 00:24:40,880 --> 00:24:44,399 Speaker 1: I'm gonna go on the no, I'm not going to 401 00:24:44,400 --> 00:24:46,400 Speaker 1: the White House. That's we're not going to be invited. 402 00:24:46,600 --> 00:24:50,520 Speaker 1: You're not going to doubt it. Much like Jessice video 403 00:24:50,520 --> 00:24:55,080 Speaker 1: with Jeremiah, Rippino's answer also went viral. The President tweeted, 404 00:24:55,119 --> 00:24:58,280 Speaker 1: in part women's soccer player Megan Rappino, which he actually 405 00:24:58,359 --> 00:25:01,000 Speaker 1: used the wrong Twitter handle on that one should win 406 00:25:01,119 --> 00:25:04,640 Speaker 1: first before she talks, and for days it dominated cable 407 00:25:04,680 --> 00:25:07,840 Speaker 1: news at home and press conferences in France. I stand 408 00:25:07,840 --> 00:25:09,840 Speaker 1: by the comments that I made about not wanting to 409 00:25:09,880 --> 00:25:12,440 Speaker 1: go to the White House. I would encourage my teammates 410 00:25:12,440 --> 00:25:15,199 Speaker 1: that think hard about lending that platform or having that 411 00:25:15,280 --> 00:25:18,080 Speaker 1: co opted by an administration that doesn't feel the same 412 00:25:18,119 --> 00:25:19,760 Speaker 1: way and doesn't fight for the same things that we 413 00:25:19,800 --> 00:25:22,960 Speaker 1: fight for. But there is no question that any talk 414 00:25:22,960 --> 00:25:26,000 Speaker 1: of Ropino and the women's team increased awareness for their 415 00:25:26,040 --> 00:25:29,880 Speaker 1: push for our quality for the rock ways were there 416 00:25:29,880 --> 00:25:32,959 Speaker 1: in France, visiting Jess and watching Jeremiah. It was just 417 00:25:33,000 --> 00:25:36,160 Speaker 1: another way. The entire experience became surreal. So we were 418 00:25:36,200 --> 00:25:40,160 Speaker 1: in a hotel with everybody, megant Pino's family, Carli Lloyd, 419 00:25:40,520 --> 00:25:44,240 Speaker 1: Alex Morgan, everybody's family. We were there and we became 420 00:25:44,320 --> 00:25:47,040 Speaker 1: friends of some of them and we text them, and 421 00:25:47,960 --> 00:25:51,600 Speaker 1: Dan in particular remembers getting private security briefings at their hotel. 422 00:25:52,200 --> 00:25:55,720 Speaker 1: We had people assigned to us for our protection. They 423 00:25:55,800 --> 00:25:58,720 Speaker 1: chartered busses for US, and I think maybe it was 424 00:25:58,720 --> 00:26:02,560 Speaker 1: against France. We were in the front row at the 425 00:26:02,600 --> 00:26:05,639 Speaker 1: bottom and I heard those seats went for up to 426 00:26:05,720 --> 00:26:10,240 Speaker 1: ten thousand dollars apiece. Jess as North Carolina family at 427 00:26:10,280 --> 00:26:13,119 Speaker 1: front row seats for that epic quarterfinal where Jess was 428 00:26:13,119 --> 00:26:16,320 Speaker 1: able to find Jeremiah before the game. In another video 429 00:26:16,320 --> 00:26:18,600 Speaker 1: from Dan Rockaway, Jess a scene at the edge of 430 00:26:18,640 --> 00:26:21,000 Speaker 1: the field in a blue warm up T shirt, leaning 431 00:26:21,000 --> 00:26:23,520 Speaker 1: over the barrier to the stands for Jeremia is in 432 00:26:23,560 --> 00:26:27,679 Speaker 1: the first roy she gives him a bear hug and 433 00:26:27,720 --> 00:26:29,840 Speaker 1: we can see if that jeremiahs and accustomed made number 434 00:26:29,840 --> 00:26:33,399 Speaker 1: twenty two USA jersey for Jess. The name on the 435 00:26:33,440 --> 00:26:38,680 Speaker 1: back reads Mommy, I Love. In that game, her Pinot 436 00:26:38,720 --> 00:26:40,959 Speaker 1: scored a pair of goals and the US held on 437 00:26:41,040 --> 00:26:44,600 Speaker 1: for two to one victory. That is it US Advances. 438 00:26:46,960 --> 00:26:49,520 Speaker 1: It marked the national team's eighth straight semifinal appearance in 439 00:26:49,560 --> 00:26:53,160 Speaker 1: the World Cup, and another two to one victory against England. 440 00:26:53,600 --> 00:26:59,239 Speaker 1: That was it. Us. Would I say, we probably use 441 00:26:59,320 --> 00:27:02,879 Speaker 1: the lawsuits fuel to like really want to win it. Yeah, 442 00:27:03,000 --> 00:27:06,000 Speaker 1: that's a small piece, but you know, we wanted it overall. 443 00:27:06,240 --> 00:27:11,239 Speaker 1: This wasn't just about the lawsuit. On July seven at 444 00:27:11,240 --> 00:27:14,200 Speaker 1: Park Olympic leon A, Jess and her teammates knew that 445 00:27:14,240 --> 00:27:16,640 Speaker 1: one final win would samant the US women in World 446 00:27:16,680 --> 00:27:19,520 Speaker 1: Cup history, but it also gave them a chance to 447 00:27:19,560 --> 00:27:22,800 Speaker 1: notch a place in American history. I was in leone 448 00:27:22,840 --> 00:27:25,520 Speaker 1: in the stands in the final, and you know, I 449 00:27:26,320 --> 00:27:28,240 Speaker 1: literally am getting goose bumps as I think about it. 450 00:27:28,600 --> 00:27:31,040 Speaker 1: Daniel Clayton was at the stadium that day, part of 451 00:27:31,040 --> 00:27:34,159 Speaker 1: the Fox Sports team covering the final. Like I'm hearing, 452 00:27:34,200 --> 00:27:37,960 Speaker 1: you know, all of these fans chanting equal pay, equal pay, 453 00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:41,159 Speaker 1: and I I truly believe we're at a time when 454 00:27:41,600 --> 00:27:43,879 Speaker 1: we all understand that this is what needs to happen. 455 00:27:44,119 --> 00:27:47,680 Speaker 1: We are in a time where the general public gets 456 00:27:47,720 --> 00:27:50,480 Speaker 1: it and it agrees. I think the hard part is 457 00:27:50,520 --> 00:27:55,320 Speaker 1: actually putting it into practice. And Jess, she had an 458 00:27:55,359 --> 00:28:00,840 Speaker 1: additional goal to make her son proud. Yeah, he was 459 00:28:00,880 --> 00:28:03,120 Speaker 1: in the family of friends section, which was like very 460 00:28:03,119 --> 00:28:05,480 Speaker 1: close to the field, Like I can see him while 461 00:28:05,520 --> 00:28:08,160 Speaker 1: I'm like warming up, you know, so he was that close. 462 00:28:08,280 --> 00:28:10,080 Speaker 1: So I want to say like the third or fourth 463 00:28:10,160 --> 00:28:14,600 Speaker 1: row something like that, which is really cool. Just didn't 464 00:28:14,600 --> 00:28:16,800 Speaker 1: record any playing time in the final, but she was 465 00:28:16,840 --> 00:28:20,600 Speaker 1: on the sideline supporting her team Jeremiah looking on with pride. 466 00:28:22,119 --> 00:28:24,320 Speaker 1: The US controlled much of the tempo during the first half, 467 00:28:25,080 --> 00:28:28,600 Speaker 1: but couldn't break through the Dutch defense. That's gonna do it. 468 00:28:28,880 --> 00:28:32,000 Speaker 1: Fourth half has come to a close score US here 469 00:28:32,119 --> 00:28:36,520 Speaker 1: the half. Finally, in the sixty feet minute, Rupino took 470 00:28:36,520 --> 00:28:42,160 Speaker 1: a penalty kick for the Americans. Then she took off 471 00:28:42,160 --> 00:28:45,560 Speaker 1: for the corner flag, repeating an iconic celebratory post. She 472 00:28:45,680 --> 00:28:49,880 Speaker 1: debuted against France, her arms outstretched at tada for the world. 473 00:28:51,320 --> 00:28:54,360 Speaker 1: Minutes later midfield, Rose Lavel would add an insurance school 474 00:28:54,400 --> 00:29:03,600 Speaker 1: for the U S women. Look at it to zero. 475 00:29:03,920 --> 00:29:06,800 Speaker 1: It was like, oh, this is it. Even the coaching staff, 476 00:29:06,920 --> 00:29:09,240 Speaker 1: like we're all just lined up together, like arms dropped 477 00:29:09,240 --> 00:29:11,920 Speaker 1: around us, and we're jittery, you know, we're on our toes, 478 00:29:11,960 --> 00:29:13,400 Speaker 1: just kind of waiting for the raft and blow of 479 00:29:13,400 --> 00:29:24,920 Speaker 1: the whistle. That's it, us whistle blows. Oh, we were 480 00:29:24,920 --> 00:29:28,080 Speaker 1: at a full sprint and surpartedly enough, none of us 481 00:29:28,200 --> 00:29:31,200 Speaker 1: pulled a muscle running out there. But we all ran 482 00:29:31,240 --> 00:29:34,240 Speaker 1: out and tackled one another, gave each other just big 483 00:29:34,360 --> 00:29:38,200 Speaker 1: hugs and shed some tears, shared some smiles, and we 484 00:29:38,280 --> 00:29:40,960 Speaker 1: went through this journey together. And here we are raising 485 00:29:40,960 --> 00:29:45,680 Speaker 1: the trophy together for Jess Midfield and Leon was the 486 00:29:45,680 --> 00:29:50,200 Speaker 1: mountaintop homelessness and phoenix fighting for college in North Carolina, 487 00:29:50,640 --> 00:29:53,240 Speaker 1: a pro career that had taken her everywhere, all of 488 00:29:53,240 --> 00:29:56,400 Speaker 1: it led her there to France. She hugged everyone she 489 00:29:56,400 --> 00:29:59,040 Speaker 1: could find, wearing a grin ran my advocate of seen 490 00:29:59,120 --> 00:30:01,480 Speaker 1: from Arizona. I think about it all the time still 491 00:30:01,520 --> 00:30:03,520 Speaker 1: to this day, even in front of you guys, even 492 00:30:03,600 --> 00:30:08,880 Speaker 1: just talking about it and reminiscing. It's wanting your dream 493 00:30:08,920 --> 00:30:12,120 Speaker 1: to just come true, and mine definitely did becoming a 494 00:30:12,160 --> 00:30:16,040 Speaker 1: World Cup champion. And then as the blue and yellow 495 00:30:16,040 --> 00:30:18,960 Speaker 1: confetti started to fall, Jess hugged the person she wanted 496 00:30:19,000 --> 00:30:22,320 Speaker 1: to most security, led him onto the field, helped to 497 00:30:22,360 --> 00:30:25,160 Speaker 1: bring him down, and Jeremiah just kind of like ran 498 00:30:25,200 --> 00:30:29,200 Speaker 1: to me onto the field. Photos from the celebration showed 499 00:30:29,240 --> 00:30:32,200 Speaker 1: Jess on her knees, the champion's medal hanging around her neck, 500 00:30:32,920 --> 00:30:36,720 Speaker 1: with Jeremiah dumping festivals of confetti on her head. They 501 00:30:36,720 --> 00:30:40,440 Speaker 1: had made it there together. Do you remember your trip 502 00:30:40,480 --> 00:30:44,160 Speaker 1: to France when your mom won the World Cup? Oh yeah, 503 00:30:44,240 --> 00:30:47,360 Speaker 1: I was it the one with all the confetti, that's 504 00:30:47,400 --> 00:30:50,760 Speaker 1: probably the one. Oh yeah, I remember that. That was 505 00:30:50,800 --> 00:30:56,640 Speaker 1: super fun. Sow, I'm all my confetti on my mod. Yeah. 506 00:30:56,720 --> 00:31:01,080 Speaker 1: And we did snow Angels also, and we did Buddy Yeah. 507 00:31:05,560 --> 00:31:07,520 Speaker 1: Jas remembers that all the focus on the U S 508 00:31:07,560 --> 00:31:11,120 Speaker 1: women off the field became something even more lasting immediately 509 00:31:11,160 --> 00:31:17,160 Speaker 1: after the final whistle, the historic chance had evolved with time. Yeah, 510 00:31:20,280 --> 00:31:22,360 Speaker 1: we had realized towards the end of the tournament this 511 00:31:22,440 --> 00:31:24,760 Speaker 1: lawsuit was much bigger than we thought it would have 512 00:31:24,800 --> 00:31:27,800 Speaker 1: been or how it turned out, whether we want or lost. 513 00:31:28,480 --> 00:31:32,680 Speaker 1: When we first heard the chant equal pay, will pay 514 00:31:32,760 --> 00:31:36,600 Speaker 1: in the whole stadium, just once again, we realized right 515 00:31:36,600 --> 00:31:39,360 Speaker 1: then and there, this is a movement. This is a 516 00:31:39,440 --> 00:31:42,480 Speaker 1: worldwide movement. This is something bigger than us, This is 517 00:31:42,520 --> 00:31:45,720 Speaker 1: something historical, and we have to fight for all the 518 00:31:45,760 --> 00:31:48,800 Speaker 1: females out there, all the little girls out there. We 519 00:31:48,880 --> 00:31:53,120 Speaker 1: have to finish this out. The world had the women's backs, 520 00:31:53,680 --> 00:31:58,160 Speaker 1: but once again with their own parents, Soccer Federation and 521 00:31:58,240 --> 00:32:01,120 Speaker 1: on part ten of payback. All those in favor of 522 00:32:01,200 --> 00:32:05,040 Speaker 1: equal pay, say, I the Women's National Soccer SEA, the 523 00:32:05,120 --> 00:32:08,080 Speaker 1: president of the US Soccer Federation has stepped down from 524 00:32:08,120 --> 00:32:11,240 Speaker 1: his position. The only thing that moved the needle and negotiations. 525 00:32:11,440 --> 00:32:14,520 Speaker 1: Sitting at this table and say this is what matters 526 00:32:14,520 --> 00:32:18,600 Speaker 1: to us, player to president. Just like every woman that 527 00:32:18,800 --> 00:32:22,560 Speaker 1: read that legal breathe, I was hurt and offended. We 528 00:32:22,640 --> 00:32:25,600 Speaker 1: have the fan base, we fill stadiums, and we win. 529 00:32:26,320 --> 00:32:30,280 Speaker 1: What more do you need from us? I'm Alexandrea. Payback 530 00:32:30,360 --> 00:32:33,120 Speaker 1: is a production of The Charlotte Observer, Raleigh News and Observer, 531 00:32:33,320 --> 00:32:37,400 Speaker 1: McClatchy Studios, and I Heart Radio. It's produced by Cotta Stevens, 532 00:32:37,640 --> 00:32:42,280 Speaker 1: Casey Top, Julia Wall, and Davin Coburn. The executive producer 533 00:32:42,320 --> 00:32:45,600 Speaker 1: for iHeart Radio is Sean t Toone. For lots more 534 00:32:45,600 --> 00:32:48,600 Speaker 1: on this story and to support journalism like this, visit 535 00:32:48,680 --> 00:32:52,320 Speaker 1: Charlotte Observer dot com slash payback or News Observer dot 536 00:32:52,400 --> 00:32:57,760 Speaker 1: com slash Payback, and for more podcasts for my heart Radio, 537 00:32:58,200 --> 00:33:02,000 Speaker 1: visit the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you 538 00:33:02,040 --> 00:33:11,400 Speaker 1: listen to your favorite shows. H