Unbreakable and Undefeated: US Women’s Soccer Team Triumphs On and Off the Field at 2023 ESPY Awards

The 2023 ESPYs honored the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team for their remarkable achievements in women’s sports, as well as their relentless pursuit of equal pay.

Briana Scurry, Christen Press, and other current and former members of the team appeared on the stage at the ESPYs on July 12 to receive this year's Arthur Ashe Award for Courage. Scurry, a former U.S. women's goalkeeper who participated in the 1996 pay equality strike during the Olympics, expressed gratitude for the honor on behalf of the entire team, acknowledging the 252 women who have represented the U.S. national team over the years.

In the meantime, Press, who was a part of the women's national team when they received equal pay in 2022, furthered the acceptance speech by expressing the team's aspirations for the future.

"This is an exhilarating moment for our team and the sports community as a whole. Those who have supported us in our pursuit of equality understand that our battle is far from over," she conveyed. "We have taken great pride in championing equality and we aim to make a significant impact, reaching thousands and millions of individuals."

She continued by emphasizing the importance of rallying behind civil and human rights in order to foster a more just and anti-racist society. She expressed the need to show support for our transgender siblings and promote respect and kindness in all of our interactions. Accepting the award, she proudly acknowledged all those who continue to tirelessly fight for a better world. The award, named after tennis player Arthur Ashe, honors exceptional athletes who have shown strength in adversity, courage in the face of danger, and unwavering commitment to their beliefs despite any consequences. ESPN defines the criteria for the award in this manner.

The women's soccer team has been consistently advocating for important social issues, particularly equal pay between male and female sports. In March 2016, Carli Lloyd disclosed that the group received only 40 percent of what their male counterparts earned. During an appearance on Today, she stated that the timing was appropriate and that they had proven their worth over the years. Given the significant difference in pay between men and women, even after a World Cup victory, they were determined to continue their fight.

After three years of filing an equal pay complaint, the team decided to take legal action against the U.S. Soccer Federation on grounds of gender discrimination. Following their triumphant win in the 2019 World Cup, Secret, the deodorant brand, generously donated $529,000 to support the team's battle for equal pay.

“Although women have just made history, they have always deserved equal pay,” declared the brand in a full-page advertisement published in the New York Times in July 2019. Their message to the U.S. Soccer Federation was clear: “Choose the path that aligns with progress and support gender equality.”

The advertisement emphasized that inequality goes beyond financial compensation and includes the overall values supported. It called for using this moment of triumph to drive women's sports towards a brighter future. The brand passionately urged the U.S. Soccer Federation to become a symbol of strength by eliminating gender pay disparities for all players, once and for all.

According to ESPN, in February 2022, the lawsuit was resolved, resulting in each player earning $24 million. In September of the same year, both the U.S. men's and women's national teams agreed to equal pay, ensuring identical compensation for games, tournaments, and World Cup prize money. U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone expressed her appreciation to the women's and men's national teams, their players' associations, and U.S. Soccer for their collaborative efforts in achieving this outcome. Cone emphasized the significance of the men's support in making equal pay a reality.

The U.S. Women's National Soccer Team has not only advocated for equal pay but has also expressed their support for the Black Lives Matter movement. During a November 2020 match, the athletes proudly displayed jackets with the movement's name.

The team released a statement through the U.S. Soccer Federation's website clarifying their intention behind wearing Black Lives Matter apparel. They emphasized that it was a personal commitment to human decency and not a political agenda. Their goal is to create a society that upholds American ideals and eradicates systemic targeting of Black lives. The team collectively acknowledges the existence of injustice and sees this acknowledgment as the first step towards rectifying it.

Player Alex Morgan expressed her stance on Twitter, asserting her commitment to collaborating with her teammates in establishing a society that upholds American ideals and puts an end to the systematic targeting of Black lives.