we are starting to see steps taken we are starting to see steps ta ken towards we are starting to see steps taken towards equal pay, we have the women s national team in 2022 signed into law equal pgy- in 2022 signed into law equal pay. you are seeing that have a ripple effect on countries around the globe. you are seeing countries like canada in confrontation with their federation, because of equal pgy- federation, because of equal pay. you are seeing different teams really trying to push for equality and justice, and for what they feel like they deserve. what they feel like they deserve- what they feel like they deserve. , ., , deserve. yet the prize money isn t the same, deserve. yet the prize money isn t the same, this deserve. yet the prize money isn t the same, this world - deserve. yet the prize money| isn t the same, this world cup isn t the same, this world cup is only one quarter of the fund that there was for the men s world cup. that there was for the men s world cup-
but also the tournament has shone a light on inequalities in pay, prize money, basic things as well, like kit and access to physios and proper nutrition. what do you think the legacy of this tournament is? i think the legacy we will see is one of the best tournaments that there has been in women s football to date, i think the players have performed to a level that was expected from everybody who is a fan and who works in women s football, but for those new fans, probably something they had never seen before because it has been truly exceptional. i think moving the tournament to 32 teams has meant the quality has increased, where many people doubted that and thought the quality would decrease because of the increase in teams. so the on the pitch legacy is absolutely phenomenal. off the pitch legacy is yet to be seen. you are right, there has been a lot of discussion about pay
the structure has been set up early on to set up early on to support and mentor men, initially to have men bringing other men along. a big gap we have in the us, not simply the pay and equity in women s basketball that you mention, but the struggle for women coaches and women athletic directors to be in the leadership positions, to help nurture other women s sports. micaela, if i can bring you in, you have been writing about sport and feminism. sport is a place where on some level sexism appears to be tolerated where it isn t in other walks of life. i think that s absolutely true. dr morris brought up the battle of the sexes with billie jean king in the 705, i spoke to her for my book and one of the things she talked about, she knew very clearly at the time and still understands very clearly now, was that in order to get real change in these metrics like pay and prize money,
so anywhere from 2000 to 2019, the salary was below minimum wage. i would say on average i made about $16,000 a year playing professional soccer, and instead of living in a mansion, i lived with a host family. it was a situation where we understood the resources were very minimal, the salaries were very minimal. so we were working towards a brighter future which we are seeing now with the 2023 women s world cup, and the current state of women s football in the united states. the salaries might be different between men and women but the commitment is no less different, the physical pressure on your body is no less different. there s still a long road to go, isn t there? yeah, a very long road to go. we have been fighting, battling for equal pay dating back, you know, to 1985, when the women s national team had their first ever team camp.
dynamic push by billie jean king, hervery dynamic push by billie jean king, her very famous battle of the victory over bobby rigg flew back. it s about to celebrate its golden anniversary in late september, 50 years. bobby riggs. we have a pattern in the united states of assuming that male sports are the standard, and that allowing women to play is, you know, some kind of pathway towards fairness. that sets up a real parameter that it s almost a privilege for women to step onto any court. they have to prove themselves, they have to prove themselves, they have to come up with the funds. the structure has been set up early on to support. initially to have men bringing other men along. a big gap we have in the us, not simply the pay and