Recent Gains In Women's Professional Sports May Be Lost to Virus
2020-04-28
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1Linked to the rising call for equality worldwide, women's sports had been gaining much attention before the new coronavirus appeared.
2The women's World Cup in France fueled Americans' interest in soccer, or as the sport is more commonly known, football.
3As the United States won the championship series at a sports center in France, the crowd cheered and began to shout out "Equal Pay!" over and over again.
4The U.S. women's team accuses the U.S. Soccer Federation of sex discrimination in pay.
5The team has taken legal action against the governing body of the sport in the U.S.
6The professional National Women's Soccer League is home to many of the U.S. team's players.
7Before the virus began spreading, the league was expecting to open its eighth season with a new television contract.
8In addition, women's professional softball was looking toward softball's return to the Olympics for the first time since 2008.
9Pro volleyball, especially popular in Europe, Russia and Brazil, similarly receives a lot of public attention in an Olympic year.
10However, the spread of the coronavirus to almost every country appears to have put a stop to women's progress in the sports world.
11Now the question is whether players will lose the gains they had made when life returns to normal.
12Cheri Kempf heads the National Pro Fastpitch softball league.
13She says the men's side of the sports industry will not suffer as much as the women's because it has more money and power to start.
14The men can sail through the coronavirus health crisis, she suggested.
15The losses for women athletes are already taking place.
16Recently in Colombia, the Independiente Santa Fe soccer team announced it would suspend all player contracts for its women's team.
17The male players, it added, would only face pay cuts.
18The effects of the disease COVID-19 on the U.S. economy could look like those that resulted from the 2008 recession.
19Back then, the Houston Comets of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) was seeking a new owner but could not find a buyer.
20The WNBA also cut back on the number of teams.
21Whirlpool, the maker of many household products, withdrew plans to support Women's Professional Soccer, which was launched in 2009 and lasted just three seasons.
22The WNBA is in better shape today than many women's sports because of its ties with the National Basketball Association.
23The WNBA has postponed the start of its season, set for May 15,
24but Commissioner Cathy Engelbert recently suggested it might be able to return sooner rather than later.
25But there are concerns among those who are not so well-positioned.
26Kelsey Robinson plays for the U.S. women's volleyball team that was set to compete at the Olympics this summer.
27Now the Tokyo summer games will begin in July of 2021.
28Robinson usually can get paid by playing overseas, like many national team players.
29But those games have been suspended.
30She says she worries about earning money by playing volleyball.
31"It's hard to say what will happen in Turkey or China, where there are pretty strong economies for sport.
32But for sure, Italy I know will have to decrease salaries, maybe not at the top team, but I'm sure it'll affect lower teams...," Robinson said.
33"We're not finishing the season right now or playing, so that's a hard financial burden...." And, she said, decisions about pay levels next year can greatly depend on how the team finishes the current season.
34Yael Averbuch West is executive director of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) Players Association.
35She says players' fears about losses are reasonable.
36"I think that everybody is afraid of that. And especially right now, looking at women's soccer and coming off of what we feel is a huge positive momentum after the World Cup...," she said.
37The international soccer players' union, FIFPro, warns of the effect the coronavirus could have on women's soccer worldwide.
38"Who knows what the future will bring?" said Jodie Taylor.
39She plays for the NWSL's Reign and England's national team and serves on the FIFPro player council. She said the reality of the future is worrisome, adding "and one that the world's kind of sitting back and waiting for."
40Players in individual sports could be hit hardest.
41Tennis, golf and track athletes are largely dependent on competing to earn money.
42The Women's Tennis Association has announced plans to begin play on July 13.
43Wimbledon, the sport's most famous championship event, has been canceled this year.
44I'm Caty Weaver.
1Linked to the rising call for equality worldwide, women's sports had been gaining much attention before the new coronavirus appeared. 2The women's World Cup in France fueled Americans' interest in soccer, or as the sport is more commonly known, football. As the United States won the championship series at a sports center in France, the crowd cheered and began to shout out "Equal Pay!" over and over again. The U.S. women's team accuses the U.S. Soccer Federation of sex discrimination in pay. The team has taken legal action against the governing body of the sport in the U.S. 3The professional National Women's Soccer League is home to many of the U.S. team's players. Before the virus began spreading, the league was expecting to open its eighth season with a new television contract. 4In addition, women's professional softball was looking toward softball's return to the Olympics for the first time since 2008. Pro volleyball, especially popular in Europe, Russia and Brazil, similarly receives a lot of public attention in an Olympic year. 5However, the spread of the coronavirus to almost every country appears to have put a stop to women's progress in the sports world. Now the question is whether players will lose the gains they had made when life returns to normal. 6Cheri Kempf heads the National Pro Fastpitch softball league. She says the men's side of the sports industry will not suffer as much as the women's because it has more money and power to start. The men can sail through the coronavirus health crisis, she suggested. 7The losses for women athletes are already taking place. Recently in Colombia, the Independiente Santa Fe soccer team announced it would suspend all player contracts for its women's team. The male players, it added, would only face pay cuts. 8The effects of the disease COVID-19 on the U.S. economy could look like those that resulted from the 2008 recession. Back then, the Houston Comets of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) was seeking a new owner but could not find a buyer. The WNBA also cut back on the number of teams. 9Whirlpool, the maker of many household products, withdrew plans to support Women's Professional Soccer, which was launched in 2009 and lasted just three seasons. 10The WNBA is in better shape today than many women's sports because of its ties with the National Basketball Association. The WNBA has postponed the start of its season, set for May 15, but Commissioner Cathy Engelbert recently suggested it might be able to return sooner rather than later. 11But there are concerns among those who are not so well-positioned. 12Kelsey Robinson plays for the U.S. women's volleyball team that was set to compete at the Olympics this summer. Now the Tokyo summer games will begin in July of 2021. Robinson usually can get paid by playing overseas, like many national team players. But those games have been suspended. She says she worries about earning money by playing volleyball. 13"It's hard to say what will happen in Turkey or China, where there are pretty strong economies for sport. But for sure, Italy I know will have to decrease salaries, maybe not at the top team, but I'm sure it'll affect lower teams...," Robinson said. "We're not finishing the season right now or playing, so that's a hard financial burden...." And, she said, decisions about pay levels next year can greatly depend on how the team finishes the current season. 14Yael Averbuch West is executive director of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) Players Association. She says players' fears about losses are reasonable. 15"I think that everybody is afraid of that. And especially right now, looking at women's soccer and coming off of what we feel is a huge positive momentum after the World Cup...," she said. 16The international soccer players' union, FIFPro, warns of the effect the coronavirus could have on women's soccer worldwide. 17"Who knows what the future will bring?" said Jodie Taylor. She plays for the NWSL's Reign and England's national team and serves on the FIFPro player council. She said the reality of the future is worrisome, adding "and one that the world's kind of sitting back and waiting for." 18Players in individual sports could be hit hardest. Tennis, golf and track athletes are largely dependent on competing to earn money. 19The Women's Tennis Association has announced plans to begin play on July 13. Wimbledon, the sport's most famous championship event, has been canceled this year. 20I'm Caty Weaver. 21Reuters news agency reported this story. Caty Weaver adapted it for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 22________________________________________________________________ 23Words in This Story 24league -n. a group of sports teams that play against each other 25athlete -n. a person who is trained in or good at sports, games, or exercises that require physical skill and strength 26salary -n. an amount of money that an employee is paid each year 27burden -n. someone or something that is very difficult to accept, do, or deal with 28positive -adj. good or useful 29momentum -n. the strength or force that allows something to continue or to grow stronger or faster as time passes