USWNT in SheBelieves Cup: Sports and spirit

Christen+Press+plays+midfielder+for+USWNT.

Jamie Smed | CC BY 2.0

Christen Press plays midfielder for USWNT.

Timothy Stolp, Staff Writer

This weekend in Hollywood, the Oscars took center stage in the fight for equality. However, the U.S. women’s soccer team is also aiming for fairness through their sport.

Just a few short weeks after the 2018 Winter Olympics, the national women’s team is currently hosting the third SheBelieves Cup. Running from the first of the month until the seventh, the annual tournament highlights four elite teams from around the globe.

“Just like the last two years, the four participants in the SheBelieves Cup are among the top women’s soccer countries in the world, with the teams all sitting in the Top-10 of the current FIFA Women’s World Rankings,” said the USWNT on their website.

The four teams include Germany, England, France and the American hosts. The USWNT is the reigning Women’s World Cup champions.

Many of the U.S. team members are career professionals, having fought for equal rights over the course of their lifetimes. Two years ago, the women started a public campaign for equal pay and succeeded. Now as role models, the USWNT feels apart of a unification of women in sports and across industries.

“I think people all around the world are realizing how important it is to make these connections with people on the same journey as you,” said U.S. midfielder Christen Press to the New York Times.

The SheBelieves Cup is another facet of their movement, bringing four powerhouses of soccer together. The motive is not to have the ability to play viciously, but the oppurtunity to pool the talents of these women.

Second seed USWNT is to play England, currently in the lead, tomorrow.

For more information on the games, check out the USWNT webpage: https://www.ussoccer.com/womens-national-team#tab-1

To read the rest of the New York Times article about USWNT:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/04/sports/soccer/us-womens-soccer-equality.html