Playing beyond the field- Why did Alex Morgan looked beyond the soccer?

Alex Morgan, proud co-captain of U.S. women's national soccer team

Alex Morgan is a powerhouse of enormous strength, determination, and inspiration. Her work in and outside the soccer field is shaping a brighter future for female soccer players and perhaps for all the female athletes around the world.

U.S. Women's National Team (WNT) has brought home four FIFA world cup winning trophies and won Olympic gold medals four times as well. They were the CONCACAF Championship and Gold Cup champions for eight years. In another major competition, Algarve cup WNT were champions for eight games. U.S. Men's National Team (MNT), on the other hand, has yet to bring any championship trophy or gold medals for the United States. However, when we take a look at the salary comparison between WNT and MNT, the wage gap is enormous. A female national team player would get maximum of $4, 950 per game, whereas the average wage rate of player of the MNT is $13,166. A male player whose position is similar to the women in the national team earns 62.40% more. Even for winning the Women's world cup, the U.S. WNT was paid less than U.S. MNT for losing in round 16. Thus, Morgan along with her fellow teammates filled a lawsuit against the United States Soccer Federation for wage discrimination in March 2016 and gender discrimination in March 2019.

Morgan looked beyond the soccer field because female athletes not only have to compete in the sports arena but also in pay, support and development of sports. They are underappreciated, undervalued and underpaid in comparison to male athletes. Morgan is a powerful force that is changing the face of women's soccer not only as a good player but also as an activist for equality and equal pay. Being at the forefront of women's soccer, she understands the responsibility and influence that comes with her position. She is constantly building her brand to inspire and empower women and young girls to value themselves as they should. She strides to create opportunity for women where they feel included, embraced and respected within the game. 

In the meantime, she is also not afraid to talk about her struggles and challenges to let the world know that it is not easy being the voice for equality. However, she knows that getting out of the comfort zone moves pillars and breaks industry barriers. She is vocal about the need for support from the male soccer players and people with the right platform. 

Change is slow and change is hard in the field of women's sports. Change is also steady and sturdy because of the players like Morgan. The arena of women's soccer needs more players like her whose impact, inspiration, and influence reaches far beyond the field of 120 meters X 90 meters.