2019 – Fourth World Cup Victory & Activism

The U.S. Women’s National Team won its fourth FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2019, defeating the Netherlands 2–0 in the final. The tournament served as a sporting triumph and a platform for coordinated protest. Co-captain Megan Rapinoe, who was awarded the Golden Boot and Golden Ball, used her global visibility to speak out against sexism and racism in sports and beyond. Her refusal to sing the national anthem and her open criticism of then-President Donald Trump elevated the World Cup from a competition to a political platform (Gregory 2019).

Off the field, the team’s chants of “Equal Pay!” during the post-match celebration turned the final into a public referendum on gender discrimination. The victory followed their 2016 EEOC complaint and 2019 class-action lawsuit, reinforcing the team’s transformation into a powerful labor and civil rights collective. Rapinoe’s open queerness and defiance placed LGBTQ+ visibility at the heart of the USWNT’s message, echoing the legacy of athlete-activists like Billie Jean King while pushing beyond traditional feminist frames.

In 2019, the USWNT’s success measured in their refusal to be quiet champions. Their win exemplified how gender justice, queer visibility, and labor equity could be intertwined to create a unified movement.