Margot Nezaj plays as a defender for the University at Albany women’s soccer team. She said people usually don't take women in sports as seriously as men.

“That also comes along with treatment. People will treat you differently if you’re a female athlete or a male athlete. I think male athletes tend to get more praise than female athletes,” Nezaj said.

Fair treatment is what women in sports are fighting for nationwide.


What You Need To Know

  • The U.S. women’s soccer team spent years battling for equal pay and last month, the U.S. Soccer Federation agreed to pay them $24 million

  • It also pledged to equalize pay between male and female players in competitions

  • The agreement settles a discrimination lawsuit filed by the players in 2019

The U.S. women’s soccer team spent years battling for equal pay.

Last month, the U.S. Soccer Federation agreed to pay them $24 million, and pledged to equalize pay between male and female players in competitions.

The agreement settles a discrimination lawsuit the players filed in 2019.

“Our women’s national team is the most inspiring team, especially as little girls. Growing up, I went to games all the time,” Nezaj said.

Nezaj’s teammate, Marisa Tava, called the settlement inspiring.

“Women in our sport are fighting for what’s right and what they deserve. Because at the end of the day, like I said before, there’s no difference between men and women, and if you want to say there is, our women’s team is more winning,” said Tava, also a defender for UAlbany.

Both women said the settlement is historic, but it’s also just a starting point.

“I think it’s very representative of what it’s like to be a woman in general. The fact that they had to do more work, play more games a year, win more, just to get paid even equal and not more, even though they’re winning more and playing more, it’s just very representative of what it’s like to be a woman and be a woman in sports,” Nezaj said.

The fight for equality in sports continues with the next generation. Tava and Nezaj said girls who may be watching should never give up their passion.