Celia Sasic, one of the most pivotal German women to put on her country’s shirt, has announced her retirement from football at the age of 27. Her efforts during the 2015 Women’s World Cup has earned her the title of top scorer in the competition. Her match against the Ivory Coast during the group stages was enough to convince anyone that they would have won the whole competition had the USA not burst their dream.
The congratulations keep coming in for the USWNT as they continue to celebrate their World Cup victory.
One particular video caught the eye of the ladies when New England Patriots Rob Gronkowski decided to drop this:
Long after the stadium lights have dimmed, the interviews have ended and the traveling has stopped, the battle for equal pay continues for female soccer players.
Even though the USWNT just won the Women's World Cup, the team will only receive $2 million, compared to $35 million for the German men’s team last year. Individually, the USWNT players will each get about $300,000, which is roughly comparable to what the Germans got.
On average, more than 25.4 million viewers tuned in to see the USWNT defeat Japan on Fox, per the New York Times. But with the addition of Spanish channels, the average viewership reached 26.7 million. The total viewership for all or part of the match exceeded 40 million people.
Hand-wringing was an appropriate response to how the U.S. Women’s National Team began their World Cup run.
The eyes of the nation have been on soccer for the past week, and deservedly so.
Last Sunday’s final between the United States Women’s National Team and Japan smashed all previous ratings records for soccer in the United States, never mind the fact that it was a broadcast of women’s soccer.
MLS caused a stir when it was announced both New York Red Bulls and New York City FC would have floats in the U.S. Women's National Team's ticker tape parade through the Canyon of Heroes in New York City.
MLS is one of the sponsors of the event, which could explain the presence of MLS teams in an event that ostensibly has nothing to do with them. Major League Soccer itself will also have a float.
The USA kicked off against Australia in their first group stage match and put three past the Matildas in a game that would set the tone for the rest of the competition with a defensively disciplined team who pounces on the counter. Megan Rapinoe put away two goals in the first and second half to secure the first win of the competition.
Finally out of the 16-year shadow cast by the 1999 Women’s World Cup Champions, the 2015 winners are searching for the next team to beat. With literally no other team standing, it only makes sense to compare the champs head to head.
Goalkeeper: Scurry vs. Solo
For all the flack she has received, USWNT coach Jill Ellis has led her team to their first World Cup since 1999, avenging their lost to Japan in the 2011 WC Final.
Ellis took a lot of heat during this tournament because of her team’s lack of scoring and relying too much on her team’s defense to win games, but in the end it paid off.
The U.S. is now World Cup Champions and Jill Ellis and her team earned it.