Is the US Women's Soccer Team REALLY Making Less (A Female Marketer's Perspective)
Jessica Taylor
Helping businesses fix their website and email issues that are stopping them from being seen and sending emails. | Fractional CTO
After an amazing win by the U.S. women’s soccer team the debate about why the women’s soccer team is paid less then the U.S. men’s team wages (pun intended) on.
While I am for equal pay in the work place I also believe that equal impact should create equal pay. Let’s look and see if a pay increase for the women’s soccer team is due.
Up until 2016 revenue to the United States Soccer Federation from the men’s and women’s team wasn’t separated. Sponsorships are a heavy (over 50%) contributor to the operating revenue of the USSF. Sponsorships grow each time when either the men’s or women’s team goes to the world cup (Men’s impacted sponsorship growth by 50%, and Women’s team impacted 25% sponsorships when they won the 2015 World Cup).
Both the Men’s and Women’s team have different pay structures. Men earn based on bonuses while women have a base salary plus bonuses. When broken down a Women’s US Soccer Team player and a Men’s Soccer team play can make the same amount if they both lose all 20 games. So performance wise technically when the numbers break down they are paid the same but men have a higher bonus because theoretically they impact league sponsorships more.
However individually speaking this is where well branded players can make their money. Influencer marketing is reaching its toddler years and still stronger then ever with women at the forefront and success stories of Instagram now is the time to strike partnerships.
When it comes to revenue from games, the women’s national soccer team has held its own against the men’s team since the 2015 World Cup win. But games account for only one-quarter of USSF revenue. Sponsorships make up half, and it’s hard to determine what the women’s team contributed to USSF without more data. - Washington Post
All eyes are on the Women’s Soccer Team, it is time to leverage these eyes to increase if not compete with the men’s income. While it may take time for Women to earn more from the direct source, I personally feel the ability to diversify and provide larger impact financially and socially speaking through commercials, sponsored posts, and viral videos is where the real gold is waiting.
PS: This commercial gives me chills