Stephanie Ciarkowski

Dr. Cummins

Sports in America SHY 330-75

March 26, 2023

The 1999 Women’s World Cup

There are many major events seen throughout soccer’s history, but one major

event was the 1999 Women’s World Cup. It began with the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta

when Julie Foudy, Joy Fawcett, Brandi Chastain, and Mia Hamm had their first big

break (Zirin, 2007). The national team was set to play in one of their first major games,

of which they became aware that the women’s team was to be paid $1,000 a month and

only promised a bonus if they won gold, however the men were promised this bonus no

matter what they medaled (Zirin, 2007). These young women sought out advice from

Billie Jean King, well-known feminist, who suggested they simply not play and so the

players went on a ‘wildcat strike’. This is a kind of strike in which the group alone

decides they will take matters into their own hands without discussing with any type of

higher power and therefore, the women decided not to show up to practice. Therefore,

the soccer powers brought in a group of replacement players, some of which remained

a part of the team even after the Olympic strike ended, including Brandi Chastain (Zirin,

2007). Due to this disagreement, the players and the owners renegotiated the contract

to provide proper retribution to the team. This was a significant movement for these

women. They then played in the 1999 U.S. vs China World Cup. This was a turning

point for these issues because these women were part of the team that “...sold out the

Giants stadium and the Rose Bowl…” (Zirin, 2007). This was important because as
Sally Jenkins stated “one problem with mainstream American sports today is that they

have gotten so far from the people who watch them. This team came back to the

audience” (Zirin, 2007).

Zirin’s argument about this event’s role in history is that this event was an

extremely important turning point for women’s history in general and in sports. Though

these women had to fight for their rights to play on an equal standpoint with their male

counterparts, and they did it. They were able to strike in 1996 and show the U.S. Soccer

powers (and also the U.S. Olympic Committee) that it is unacceptable to treat female

players differently just because of gender or biases, especially since they had already

passed Title IX. These women demanded respect and recognition and they were going

to do what it took to get it. The 1999 World Cup was a turning point for women because

the team, made up of women, were able to bring in a mostly young, female audience

like them. They were able to act for causes that their fans could relate to and when they

won, it gave these fans a sense of empowerment. Multiple players on the team were

signed for different sponsorships in response to this amazing win, and “the team

became the first group of women ever named Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the

Year” (Zirin, 2007). Zirin is trying to show the reader that this event may not seem like

much to us now, however back it was a major event in sports history. This win basically

put women’s soccer on the map, gave these players endorsements and recognition,

and also provided soccer with a whole new group of fans. Though women’s rights still

have a long way to go, it is major events such as this one that helps with the process of

this movement. It shows the world that women can do whatever they set out to do and

deserve equal recognition and respect.

 Sources

Zirin, D. (2007). Welcome to the terrordome the pain, politics, and promise of sports.

Haymarket Books.