Top 100 momentsNo. 75
A World Cup and a lawsuit
The U.S. women win in France, then keep the equal-pay fight in the headlines. Megan Rapinoe’s pose is the picture; the filing is the point.
France 2019. The United States win a fourth World Cup. Megan Rapinoe scores, poses, and does not go to the White House. The team has already sued the federation over pay and conditions. The trophy lap is also a labor action with better lighting.
1999 proved the audience. 2019 proved the audience would watch the argument too. Later settlements and CBA gains sit on this summer: a dominant team that refused to smile through a smaller check.
Women’s soccer’s political era has a champion that would not separate the medal from the invoice. That is why the year stays on the list.