‘We’ll do something potential’: USWNT backs Canada in battle for pay fairness

ORLANDO, Fla. — Whatever Canada ladies’s nationwide staff wants, their U.S. counterparts are there to assist. 

The Canadian gamers mentioned in an announcement final week that they’re outraged by important finances cuts to their program with lower than six months earlier than the World Cup, and won’t take part in tune-up video games in April if they do not come to a decision with the Canada Soccer Association.

Canadian gamers will play within the SheBelieves Cup, however solely underneath protest. The U.S. performs Canada on Thursday at Exploria Stadium in Orlando at 7 p.m. ET. 

This one hits near residence for the USWNT. Players empathize with this battle and mentioned Wednesday that they’re right here to help and information their northern buddies and rivals in any manner potential. 

Three years in the past, the Americans performed their final SheBelieves Cup match underneath protest after the U.S. Soccer Federation argued in courtroom that girls have been lesser athletes than their male counterparts. The USWNT turned their warmup jerseys inside out to cover the U.S. Soccer crest and solely present the 4 stars that represented the staff’s 4 World Cup titles. 

Canadian gamers haven’t mentioned what their plans are for Thursday, however no matter it’s, U.S. gamers will present solidarity.

“In a way, we did write the playbook on this a little bit,” mentioned U.S. captain Becky Sauerbrunn, who can be the president of the gamers’ affiliation and performed an integral main function via the equal pay battle. “I feel like we can support them in how they want and need right now, which might be different than what we needed when we were fighting with our federation for equity. 

“We’re simply attempting to be supportive and sort of giving them the prospect to ask us or permit us to help them.”

While there’s a natural rivalry between the U.S. and Canada, there’s also a natural friendship. Many of the players have known each other on a personal level for years from going up against each other in international competition to competing alongside one another on their club teams. Sauerbrunn, for example, is friends and teammates with Canadian forwards Christine Sinclair and Janine Beckie from the Portland Thorns.

“We have actually simply tried to be there and help them in any manner as a result of we all know the burden that has carried via with our gamers after we have been going via the lawsuit and battle with U.S. soccer and deciding whether or not to strike or not, or find out how to protest, or when to protest, and whether or not we might get help from the followers and from our nation,” Alex Morgan mentioned. 

“Canada goes via all of it whereas nonetheless attempting to do their job and play soccer on the highest stage. So [we will do anything we can to] help them and attempt to ease their minds, to allow them to give attention to the sport and be that fierce rival on the sphere.”

Canadian players, who said they were not paid in 2022, are asking their federation for equal pay and equal investment to the men’s team. Canada’s women made history when they won their first ever Olympic gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, while the men’s side is fresh off its first World Cup appearance in 36 years. 

“This may very well be our most vital battle that we ever have as nationwide staff gamers, and it is one which we’re decided to win,” Sinclair, who is her team’s longtime captain and the world’s all-time leading international goalscorer, said during Tuesday’s press conference.

Canada’s initial reaction to their federation’s budget cuts was to strike last week before the SheBelieves Cup. They only decided not to after CSA threatened legal action.

“Imagine if we may simply do our job,” Morgan said. “That can be so good.”

The U.S. star striker followed by saying how difficult 2019-2022 was for the USWNT. Every camp they had multiple player meetings and calls with their legal, strategy and PR teams while in the midst of their lawsuit. The USWNT doesn’t need to have those extra meetups now that they won their battle.

“But Canada is simply getting began,” Morgan said. “I hope that it is a shorter highway for them, and we’ll do something potential to attempt to publicize what they’re preventing for and why they need to obtain that.”

Does Morgan think there will ever come a time when there’s not something for women to fight for?

“S—, I hope so,” she said. “I hope there is a time after we simply present up and do our job like our male counterparts and do not have to fret about preventing for equality. 

“And it’s not just in sports. We see that with women in all workplaces. It’s incredibly harder to make it to the top, to be a C Suite level executive. We’re seeing a change, but it’s going to be years and years. I just hope we continue to see progress.”

As Canada’s battle with CSA drags on, they nonetheless have to return collectively and put together for the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, which begins July 20. While it might really feel like a significant distraction on the skin, Megan Rapinoe mentioned this sort of scenario can truly profit a staff. The USWNT filed their lawsuit a number of months earlier than the 2019 World Cup and went onto win their second straight title.

“I think when you’re fighting for something more than yourself and more than just your team, honestly even more than the sport, I think that’s inspiring,” Rapinoe mentioned. “I think across the world – from Champions League games, or what England did in the Euros, and the way our team has performed – I think [Canada] should use that as something that can be galvanizing and motivating for fans and players alike.”

Laken Litman covers faculty soccer, faculty basketball and soccer for FOX Sports. She beforehand wrote for Sports Illustrated, USA Today and The Indianapolis Star. She is the creator of “Strong Like a Woman,” printed in spring 2022 to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Title IX. Follow her on Twitter @LakenLitman.

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