'You're the motherf***ing best!' Overjoyed Megan Rapinoe swears on live TV at the NYC ticker tape parade as she celebrates her 'badass' World Cup teammates made up of 'straight girls and gay girls, white girls and black girls'
- After winning its fourth World Cup title in France on Sunday, the United States women's soccer team was honored with a ticker tape parade in New York's famed 'Canyon of Heroes' on Wednesday morning
- Captain Megan Rapinoe was so overcome with emotion at the post-parade rally at City Hall that she thanked the fans in attendance by cursing at them: 'New York City, you're the mother***ing best!'
- Tens of thousands of fans watched as an open-top bus is transported the team along the route, which ran from Battery Park up Broadway before arriving at City Hall for a ceremony hosted by Mayor Bill de Blasio
- Both Governor Andrew Cuomo and De Blasio made calls for equal pay, referring to the players' wage discrimination lawsuit against the U.S. Soccer Federation demanding equal compensation with the U.S. men
- The U.S. women will get bonuses about five times less from the U.S.S.F. - about $250,000 per player - than the men would have earned for winning the World Cup. The case is currently in mediation
- At the post-parade rally, U.S.S.F. chairman Carlos Cordeiro suggested the two sides can reach a deal: 'We believe at U.S. soccer that all female athletes deserve fair and equitable pay'
- U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, a Democrat, introduced a bill Tuesday that would bar federal funding for the men's 2026 World Cup until the U.S. Soccer Federation provides equal pay to the women's and men's teams
- The post-parade rally featured the signing of the national anthem, but as was the case throughout the World Cup, Rapinoe refused to sing or place her hand over her heart along with her teammates
- The outspoken Rapinoe has been unafraid to criticize President Donald Trump, saying last month that she would not accept an invitation from him to visit the White House if the U.S. won the World Cup
- Trump responded by tweeting that Rapinoe should 'win first before she talks,' but included an invitation in his tirade. Sunday Trump walked back his offer, telling reporters his staff 'hasn't thought about' a team visit
The World Cup-winning United States women's soccer team was honored with a ticker tape parade in Lower Manhattan on Wednesday, after which captain Megan Rapinoe was so overcome with emotion that she thanked the fans in attendance by cursing at them: 'New York City, you're the mother***ing best!'
At the post-parade rally, which was attended by a group of ticketed fans as well as Mayor Bill de Blasio and Governor Andrew Cuomo, Rapinoe expressed her appreciation for the team's diversity.
'We have pink hair and purple hair, we have tattoos and dreadlocks, we have white girls and black girls and everything in between,' she said. 'Straight girls and gay girls.'
Rapinoe also urged social change in her speech on the City Hall steps.
'This is my charge to everyone: We have to be better,' she said. 'We have to love more, hate less. We gotta listen more and talk less. We gotta know that this is everybody's responsibility...it's our responsibility to make this world a better place.'
Prior to the post-parade rally, Rapinoe declined to sing the national anthem along with her teammates or place her hand over her heart. The 34-year-old star had refused to do either during the World Cup and in previous years, she knelt during the anthem in solidarity with former NFL quarterback-turned social activist Colin Kaepernick, who first started the protests in 2016 to address inequality and racist police brutality.
Rapinoe's political stance seemed to fit perfectly within Wednesday's proceedings.
The rally and, to a lesser degree, the parade served as an opportunity for fans and politicians to demand fair wages for the U.S. women after they beat the Netherlands, 2-0, in the World Cup final on Sunday in Lyon, France.
In March, 28 current and former players on the U.S. women's team filed a gender discrimination lawsuit against the U.S. Soccer Federation, demanding equal compensation with their male counterparts, who earn much a higher base pay.
Rapinoe and her teammates were heard chanting 'USA, equal pay!' with Cuomo on one of the parade buses as fans held signs supporting their effort.
'We stand with them in solidarity,' Cuomo said at a press conference before the parade. 'Equal pay for equal work.'
Earlier Wednesday, Cuomo signed a law expanding gender pay equality in the state.
The U.S. women are receiving $250,000 bonuses for winning the tournament, or about five times less than the men would have earned for winning their World Cup. According to a recent Wall Street Journal report, the U.S. women's team generated more revenue in the three years following its 2015 victory than the men's team did.
Most of that $250,000 bonus came from splitting the $4 million World Cup winner's purse from FIFA. For comparison, the French men split a $38 million payday after winning the 2018 World Cup.
The wage discrimination case is currently in mediation, but players poked fun at the situation on Wednesday.
During the rally, backup goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris tore out a page from that legal filing and jokingly tossed it out an upper-story window at City Hall like a piece of confetti.
Sunday's victory only amplified demands to pay women's team players equally with the U.S. men.
De Blasio, a presidential candidate, told CNN before the parade that if he were in the White House, he would call for Congress to pass an amendment within the Amateur Sports Act 'requiring equal pay for men and women in all of our national sports teams.'
Failing that, De Blasio said, he would use an executive order 'to force' the U.S. Soccer Federation to pay its female players equally with the men.
U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, a Democrat, introduced a bill Tuesday that would bar federal funding for the men's 2026 World Cup until the U.S. Soccer Federation provides equal pay to the women's and men's teams.
Another politician, former President Barack Obama, congratulated the team on Twitter without referencing the fight for equal wages: 'Proud to rep America's best team! Congrats @USWNT and thanks for being such a strong inspiration for women and girls - and everybody - all across the country.'
Before the players received the key to the city from De Blasio on Wednesday, U.S.S.F. chairman Carlos Cordeiro addressed the crowd and seemed to suggest that the two sides could come to a resolution in the matter.
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The U.S. women's soccer team celebrates at City Hall after a ticker tape parade, Wednesday
Wednesday's ticker tape parade had to make due to with confetti made from recycled paper
U.S. soccer captain Megan Rapinoe (left) did not sing the national anthem or place her hand over her heart along with her teammates. The 34-year-old star refused to do either during the World Cup and in previous years, she knelt during the anthem in solidarity with former NFL quarterback-turned social activist Colin Kaepernick, who first started the protests in 2016 to address inequality and racist police brutality
Alex Morgan mimes sipping some tea - a reference to a goal celebration she made during the semifinal win over England
At first, Cordeiro's speech seemed conciliatory, as if he were agreeing to the players' demands for equal pay and equal support, such as promotion, travel, and training accommodations.
'To the Women's national team and the millions who support them, in recent months, you have raised your voices for equality,' Cordeiro said. 'Today, on behalf of all of us at U.S. Soccer, I want to say: We hear you. We believe in you. And we are committed to doing right by you.'
Then Cordeiro angered the crowd by congratulating the U.S. Soccer Federation for spending more on women's soccer 'than any country in the world.'
At this point, Cordeiro had to stop speaking because he could not be heard over the chants of 'equal pay' from the crowd.
'We will continue to invest more in women's soccer than any country in the world and we will continue to encourage others - including our friends at FIFA - to do the same,' Cordeiro said, quieting the crowd slightly.
It was then that Cordeiro elicited an enormous round of applause by declaring: 'We believe at U.S. soccer that all female athletes deserve fair and equitable pay.'
Megan Rapinoe takes her own turn drinking tea at the post-parade rally at New York's City Hall
Megan Rapinoe of the United States Women's National Soccer Team receives the key to the city from Mayor Bill de Blasio at a ceremony at City Hall on Wednesday. De Blasio is one of many politicians supporting the players' effort for equal pay
A Megan Rapinoe supporter holds a sign declaring that, like the U.S. soccer captain, she would pass on a White House visit
Fans cheer as members of the World Cup-winning US women's soccer team take part in a ticker tape parade
England-born U.S. women's soccer coach Jill Ellis shakes hands with Mayor Bill de Blasio after Wednesday's post-parade rally
Megan Rapinoe and her U.S. women's soccer teammates raise the World Cup trophy at New York's City Hall
Young fans line the street during Wednesday's ticker tape parade in Lower Manhattan
The parade is named for the strands of ticker tape that used to be showered down from nearby office buildings. The tape has since been replaced with paper confetti, already drifting down from office buildings before Wednesday's parade started.
The Department of Sanitation said it will have 350 workers assigned to parade cleanup with trucks, backpack blowers and brooms at their disposal.
The team had already started celebrating its record fourth Women's World Cup title. After touching down at Newark Liberty International Airport on Monday, players shared a toast and sang 'We Are the Champions.'
Team members appeared on ABC's 'Good Morning America' in Times Square on Tuesday to show off their trophy and answer questions from cheering kids.
Rapinoe, the outspoken star who won the awards for the tournament's best player and top scorer, also appeared on CNN and MSNBC later Tuesday.
Rapinoe told CNN's Anderson Cooper that Republican President Donald Trump's slogan 'Make America Great Again' is 'harking back to an era that wasn't great for everyone. It might've been great for a few people.'
Rapinoe told MSNBC's Rachel Maddow that Trump had yet to invite the women's soccer team to the White House.
Trump had previously tweeted that he would invite the team, win or lose. Rapinoe has said she wouldn't be going to the White House. The team has accepted an invitation to visit Congress.
U.S. soccer captain Megan Rapinoe poses with New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and his wife during a post-parade rally
Alex Morgan celebrates with the trophy while riding on a float during the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team Victory Parade
Captain Megan Rapinoe and the U.S. Women's National Team celebrate during the Women's World Cup championship parade
Dykes on Bikes, the lesbian motorcycle club, got the parade going by leading buses carrying the players out onto Broadway in New York's Financial District.
The women rode their bikes with signs reading 'imagine equality' on the handle bars - a reference to the team's quest for equal pay with their male counterparts.
Roaring fans lined the same route four years ago to cheer on the U.S. women's soccer team after its 2015 2015 World Cup win.
Wednesday, floats and an open-top bus brought the team along the route, which ran from Battery Park up Broadway before finally arriving at City Hall for a ceremony hosted by the Mayor.
And like the bikers, De Blasio also made calls for equal play as the crowd emphatically agreed.
Kate Lane, who watched the parade, called the pay gap 'massive' for the soccer players and 'across the board' for most women.
'Especially in male-dominated professions,' said Lane, of Limerick, Ireland. 'Women put just as much commitment into their work as their male counterparts.'
She's hopeful the younger generation is soaking up the message from the women's team, noting a girl about 7 years old wearing an 'Equal Pay' T-shirt.
Alex Morgan (left), Julie Ertz (center) and Megan Rapinoe (right) share a bottle of champagne during Wednesday's parade
Fans react as the U.S. women's soccer team approaches during Wednesday's parade in New York's Financial District
Dykes on Bikes, the lesbian motorcycle club, got the parade going by leading the buses carrying the players out onto Broadway in New York's Financial District. The women rode their bikes with signs reading 'imagine equality' on the handle bars - a reference to the team's quest for equal pay to their male counterparts
Fans call out for U.S. women's soccer team players at the corner of Cedar St. and Broadway during the ticker tape parade
Megan Rapinoe, Alyssa Naeher, Allie Long and Becky Sauerbrunn of the U.S. with the trophy during the parade
Megan Rapinoe (R) NY Mayor Bill de Blasio, his wife(L) and other members of the World Cup-winning US women's team take part in a ticker tape parade for the women's World Cup champions. De Blasio made calls for equal pay on Wednesday
Play Like A Girl: U.S. women's soccer team fans packed Lower Manhattan to honor the four-time World Cup champs
After striking a similar pose after scoring in the quarterfinal win over France, Megan Rapinoe made her famous stance once again on Wednesday during the ticker tape parade
Megan Rapinoe and Ashlyn Harris pose for pictures during Wednesday's parade in Lower Manhattan
A shot of New York's Financial District, where the 2019 U.S. women's soccer team is being honored for its World Cup victory
An Ali Krieger fan urges the U.S. Soccer Federation to pay its female athletes equally, while pointing out that the U.S. women have four World Cup titles. Meanwhile, the U.S. men failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia
Construction workers in Lower Manhattan look on as the U.S. women's soccer team are honored for their World Cup win
Prior to the parade, Rapinoe addressed the U.S. Soccer staff, thanking them for their hard work throughout the tournament.
'Everyone who helped make this incredible ride possible,' Rapinoe's champagne toast began, 'it's probably bigger than this room, but this is ground zero of it all: Thank you from all of the players. We couldn't do it without you.'
Then Rapinoe added: 'Let's f***ing celebrate!'
ABC 'Good Morning America' host Robin Roberts was chosen to serve as M.C. for the post-parade rally.
Wednesday's ticker-tape fiesta is just the first stop on a protracted victory lap that will send the team across the United States in the coming months.
After the New York celebration, the players will jet off to California to appear at the ESPYS, the US sports world's equivalent of the Oscars, taking place in Los Angeles later on Wednesday.
The team will then be back on the road next month to play in a five-game series of friendly international matches billed as a 'Victory Tour,' starting with a clash against Ireland at the Pasadena Rose Bowl on August 3.
With Crowds chanting 'USA!' De Blasio was seen riding a float along with Morgan and several other players.
Although the heat index was approaching 90 degrees, the Mayor opted to wear a red 'Team USA' scarf during the parade.
Most of the players are seen wearing their World Cup medals, while Rapinoe, the captain, has been primarily responsible for the trophy.
Two of the team's 23 players are native New Yorkers. Allie Long, a midfielder from Northport, New York, posted on Twitter about returning to her home state.
With Crowds chanting 'USA!' New York Mayor Bill de Blasio was seen riding a float along with Alex Morgan and several other players. Although the heat index was approaching 90 degrees, the Mayor opted to wear a red 'Team USA' scarf
Fans call for equal pay after the U.S. women's soccer team won another World Cup while being paid less than the U.S. men
The parade will start at 9:30am from Battery Park and head north along Broadway to City Hall, according to the Mayor's office. The Mayor will also honor the team at City Hall
Megan Rapinoe and the U.S. women's soccer team pose for a picture ahead of Wednesday's ticker tape parade
Olivia Ciampi, 15, of Rockaway, Queens, who joined the throng with her mother, agreed equal pay for the team was long overdue.
'They work so hard and they win so many titles and they really do so much and they deserve it,' she said.
Cuomo took it a step further, telling a press conference that if pay is based on performance, the women's team should be better compensated than the men's.
'They play the same game that men soccer players play. By the way, they play it better, with better results,' Cuomo said. 'If there's any economic rationale, the men should get paid less than the women. Let's be honest!'
In March, all 28 players on the women's team filed a gender discrimination lawsuit against the U.S. Soccer Federation, demanding their compensation equal that of their male counterparts.
'The level of interest and excitement is much higher from four years ago,' said Jessica Lappin, president of the parade's organizers, Alliance of Downtown New York, referring to the 2015 parade for the team after its last World Cup victory. 'That's partly because they're women's rights icons now.'
Garret Prather brought his newborn son 'to celebrate how the American women made us proud on and off the field.'
Members of the U.S. women's soccer team, including Megan Rapinoe, rear left, and Alex Morgan, right foreground, stand on a float before being honored with a ticker tape parade along the Canyon of Heroes in New York
A grinning Megan Rapinoe looks down at the crowd during Wednesday's parade in Lower Manhattan
Soccer fans, including many families, packed into Lower Manhattan on Wednesday morning to see the U.S. soccer team
Fans get flags and face stickers ahead of Wednesday's World Cup parade in New York's Financial District
Some fans already have their seats near New York's City Hall, where the parade route ends
Rapinoe raises the World Cup trophy on Wednesday. The U.S. women will be honored at City Hall by Mayor Bill de Blasio
Fans wave American flags before the Women's World Cup championship parade
A small quantity of confetti sits on the floor of the Downtown Alliance one day ahead of a ticker-tape parade for the U.S. According to multiple reports, around one tone of the shredded paper will drop from 20 buildings during the parade
Soccer fans pack the streets of Lower Manhattan to honor the U.S. women's soccer team - the 2019 World Cup champions
A man emerges from a delicatessen displaying a spray-painted sign honoring the four-time World Cup-winning U.S. women's soccer team, one day ahead of a ticker-tape parade and City Hall ceremony for them. The deli was given a 'Grade Pending' evaluation from the New York City Department of Health
Team captain made a champagne toast to her fellow players ahead of the U.S. women's soccer team parade in New York
The U.S. women's soccer team enjoys some coffee and champagne for breakfast ahead of Wednesday's parade
Ashlyn Harris gives the camera a glance as she pours champagne for her U.S. women's soccer teammates
Real estate was in short supply in New York's Financial District during Wednesday's parade celebrating the World Cup champs
Their displeasure of unequal pay is not the only thing the U.S. women have protested.
Rapinoe drew criticism during the World Cup when a previously-recorded interview was released in which she said she would not be going 'to the f***ing White House' if the team won the tournament.
An angry President Donald Trump responded by tweeting that Rapinoe should 'win first before she talks.'
Megan Rapinoe carries a champagne flute and a World Cup trophy during Wednesday's ticker tape parade in New York
Speaking to ESPN on Tuesday, Rapinoe noted she had 'held up my end of the bargain on that one' before adding that the Twitter exchange with Trump had actually helped the team in France.
She also reiterated that she would not be going to the White House, saying on CNN's 'Anderson Cooper 360' that: 'I would not go and every teammate that I've talked to explicitly about it would not go.'
'I don't think anyone on the team has any interest in lending the platform that we've worked so hard to build and the things that we fight for and the way that we live our life, I don't think we want that to be co-opted or corrupted by this administration.'
In a Twitter tirade directed at Rapinoe, Trump had initially invited the team to the White House 'win or lose,' but seems to be walking that offer back now.
When asked about a potential meeting on Sunday, Trump replied: 'We haven't really thought about it. We'll look at that.'
Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (NY) took to the Senate floor on Monday and invited the women's team to the upper chamber.
'That's great,' Rapinoe told reporters in response. 'I love that. Interested to see what McConnell does. Thank you, Chuck Schumer, for inviting us out. We are very happy to accept your invitation to come.'
Schumer used the opportunity to call for closing the gender pay gap. He also called on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to allow a vote on the floor.
'While today we celebrate their victory, we also recognize that these women, these athletes, have challenges and they make us really think about the future of women's sports,' Schumer said on Monday.
U.S. women's soccer fans arrived at Wednesday's parade wearing face paint and sporting Team USA jerseys
Mallory Pugh posted an Instagram video before Wednesday's parade while teammate Samantha Mewis played piano
New York City police officers on patrol before the Women's World Cup championship parade
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