After equal pay: how the USWNT can help close sport’s wealth creation gap

The next step toward equity in sports will require women to think in terms of investments and the creation of intellectual property. It's a space where the USWNT can be trailblazers

The 2023 Women's World Cup will rocket 23 American players into unprecedented visibility, presenting windows for iconic, legacy-making moments - like Brandi Chastain's shirtless celebration after her winning penalty kick in 1999, and Megan Rapinoe's victory pose after a goal in 2019. Perhaps the soaring awareness of these women will also catalyze a long-overdue reckoning with the wealth disparities between male and female athletes.

The increased spotlight on the USWNT team is already apparent. On the morning of 21 June, head coach Vlatko Andonovski called each of his 23 squad members to officially tell them they'd been selected for the roster. An AT&T-sponsored crew filmed Andonovski's calls and footage circulated quickly. US president Joe Biden and his wife Jill joined in the amplification of the national team roster. For nearly 40 years the US women's national team has optimized what it means to be champions," Biden said. From lifting trophies to fighting for gender equity."

Samantha Kerr, Australia: $513,000 annual salary, with an estimated net worth of $4.5m

Alex Morgan, USA: $450,000 annual salary, with an estimated net worth of $3m

Megan Rapinoe, USA: $447,000 annual salary, with an estimated net worth of more than $5.7m

Kylian Mbappe, France: $72m annual salary, plus an estimated $18m annually in endorsements from Nike, Oakley, Dior, et al; his net worth at 24 years old is estimated at $180m

Lionel Messi, Argentina: earned more than $130m for the 2022/23 season, with an estimated net worth of more than $660m; reportedly turned down a $1.6bn dollar offer to play for a Saudi Arabian team and just signed a deal with Inter Miami for $60m annually that includes a sign-on bonus and partial team ownership

Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal: $60m annual salary, plus an estimated $45m in endorsements, with an estimated net worth of $500m