Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press
When she steps onto the pitch, representing the United States women's national team carries a larger meaning for Megan Rapinoe.
Rapinoe explained on ESPN's
SportsNation how the equal-pay lawsuit against the U.S. Soccer Federation is often on her mind while she suits up for the USWNT:
"I would much rather be spending my time doing absolutely anything else other than fighting the federation all the time for something I feel like I deserve, but that is part of it. For me, when I pull on the shirt, I'm not thinking about the federation. I see them [U.S. Soccer executives] pulling up to the game and I think: That's cute, that's nice. I feel like I pull on this shirt for equal pay and for the fans and for kids who want to be in my position. So that never feels in conflict."