HOW TO THINK ABOUT IT

A league of their own. Besides being great at winning World Cups (the USWNT has swept half the Women’s World Cup finals ever held), the team is leading in other ways. Its fight for equal pay has led many to question whether a women’s team that rakes in more revenue than its male counterpart should still be making less than 40 percent of what male players earn. Purple-haired co-captain Megan Rapinoe (below) — who’ll kick off day two of this year’s OZY Fest in New York on July 21 — has emerged as an outspoken leader, and not only on the pay gap: In her public appearances, she has exhorted fans to “be better,” directly challenged President Trump on his divisive policies and generally captivated audiences with her charisma. And while she bats down questions about whether she’ll run for office, she’s pledged to remain a lifelong activist. Her teammates have been outspoken too, with co-captain Alex Morgan defiantly dismissing criticism of her “tea sip” celebration as a double standard.

Still open. “We had Allah with us.” So said English cricket captain Eoin Morgan — who was born in Ireland and has played for that country — after his team’s narrow victory over New Zealand yesterday. He was quoting Adil Rashid, one of the team’s key bowlers, in response to a reporter’s question about whether Irish luck helped push his squad to victory for the first time in the World Cup’s 44-year history. During a time when Britain is torn over its contentious withdrawal from Europe, and whether to tighten immigration norms, the country’s victorious cricketers have made a statement: “It epitomizes our team,” Morgan continued, referring to the team’s diversity. Their top bowler is 24-year-old Jofra Archer, born in Barbados, who became eligible to play for England only this year. The team’s star batsman Sunday was New Zealand-born Ben Stokes. Rashid and another bowler, Moeen Ali, were born in the U.K. to Pakistani parents.

Heroes for all ... Although cricket originated in England, its slow pace — a match in the shortest version of the sport lasts more than three hours — has contributed to a sharp decline in popularity there. Since 2005, no free-to-air TV channels have broadcast cricket matches, unlike many soccer and rugby games, which can be watched for free. Yet as England marched to Sunday’s final with dominating performances, a growing public clamor made Channel 4 agree to air the final for free. England’s cricket team is hoping their win helps attract a fresh generation of kids to the sport, reviving its fortunes. Meanwhile, in the U.S., Rapinoe and team are showing why it makes sense to put at least as much money into women’s soccer as into the men’s game: According to Fox Sports, this year’s Women’s World Cup final was watched by 14 million U.S. viewers, more than the 11 million who watched the men’s final last year.

… or only for some? But high-profile messaging can also backfire. Take the USWNT, for example: While Rapinoe’s been hailed as a “badass,” not everyone has embraced her brand of activism. Just like former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick alienated football fans with his on-field protest during the national anthem, so too has Rapinoe angered critics by first kneeling, and then later standing, in silence during "The Star-Spangled Banner." Perhaps no less controversial was her comment last month that “I’m not going to the f**king White House” — an uncharitable swipe at President Trump, her critics claim. But as the face of the USWNT's historic lawsuit for equal pay — as OZY's hit podcast The Thread covered this season — Rapinoe will be in the headlines for some time to come.

WHAT TO READ

Afghanistan’s Stunning New Success Story: Sports by Maroosha Muzaffar on OZY
“Afghanistan has been a nation torn apart by successive wars and invasions, terrorism and sectarian conflict. Now, stunning sporting successes — from cricket and soccer to martial arts and wrestling — are helping the country dream of a new identity, while also offering hope of a better future to the younger generation.”

Like it Or Not, Megan Rapinoe Represents a Changing America by Paul Daugherty in The Cincinnati Enquirer
“She doesn’t stick to sports. Sports is what she does. It’s only a part of who she is. The whole 'stick to sports’ argument is off balance. What do you do for a living? Teacher, electrician, captain of industry? Well, stick to that. What could you possibly know about anything else?”

WHAT TO WATCH