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Gender Policy Journal

Topic / Gender, Race and Identity

Flame Bearers with Becky Sauerbrunn (USA): Soccer and Equal Pay

Flame Bearers: The Women Athletes Carrying Tokyo’s Torch brings 2021 female Olympians’ and Paralympians’ experiences to life, giving them a platform of celebration and an opportunity to share their learnings. Its purpose is to provide opportunity for both athletes and listeners alike:

  • For women Olympians and Paralympians to share their dreams, struggles, and lessons of mental fortitude, overcoming stereotypes, and building resilience.
  • For listeners to learn from the life-changing experiences of these elite female athletes and their mentors/mentees.

In this episode, Jamie talks with Becky Sauerbrunn about soccer and equal pay. Becky is on the US Women’s National Soccer Team and has been the rock of the back line for the last 8 years. She’s an Olympic gold medalist and has played in both the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, won the 2015 and 2019 World Cup championships, and recently became the US Women’s National Team Players Association President.

Alongside teammates Megan Rapinoe, Carli Lloyd, Alex Morgan and former teammate, Hope Solo, she brought forth a pay discrimination lawsuit against US Soccer. In this episode, Becky and her boyfriend, Zola discuss her experience as an elite female athlete and their take on Judge Klausner’s recent ruling on the pay equity and conditions lawsuit. Experts interviewed include Dr. David Berri, Dr. Jeni Klugman, and Dr. Laurie Essig.

Audio clip from Just Not Sports, Ep. 77: USWNT’s Becky Sauerbrunn Loves Sci-Fi & Fantasy (3:57-4:11).

You can listen here.