Rapinoe wants powerful corporations to be more comfortable sponsoring the USWNT playersGETTY IMAGES
USWNT F Megan Rapinoe has called on corporate America to "do a lot more" to support the players' fight for equal pay, and to do so "quickly." The statement came after Procter & Gamble, a USWNT sponsor via its Secret deodorant brand, yesterday took out a full-page ad printed in the N.Y. Times announcing a donation in support of the U.S. team's fight for equal pay. Appearing on NBC's "Meet the Press" yesterday, Rapinoe said, "It is a complicated issue and sometimes we get in the weeds about it when big sponsors can just write the check. These are some of the most powerful corporations, not just in sports, but in the world and have so much weight they can throw around. They just need to be more comfortable throwing it around" ("Meet the Press," NBC, 7/14). The AP noted P&G will "donate $529,000 -- $23,000 for each of the 23 players on the U.S. team that won the World Cup earlier this month -- to help close the pay gap" (AP, 7/14).
WHERE TO NEXT? In Cincinnati, Pat Brennan noted U.S. Soccer has "confirmed the dates" for the USWNT's five-match World Cup victory tour (Aug. 3, Aug. 29, Sept. 3, Oct. 3, and Oct. 6) but "hasn't announced opponents or host venues for any of the matches except for the opening match" against Ireland at the Rose Bowl. Sources said that while one of the matches "will be played in Ohio, Cincinnati won't host one of the games." Cincinnati "seemed like a logical candidate to host a victory tour match considering the prominence" of USWNT MF Rose Lavelle, who was born in and grew up in the area. With Ohio "likely to host a game and Cincinnati out of the running, that leaves Columbus and Cleveland as the remaining options" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 7/13).
