Hot Cakes & Hot Takes Key Articles of The Week I 8 Min Read

As always while you eat your Sunday morning hot cakes don't forget to check for our hot takes on key articles on women's sports of the past week. Since only 4% of media coverage is women sports, you can always get your weekly compilation in one place, here with us. Thanks for tuning in...

1. NWSL Raises League Salaries

The 2019 NWSL Champions, North Carolina Courage, celebrating their BACK to BACK Championships

This is HUGE for the NWSL. In a world where European salaries are hard to compete with, the NWSL had to something to sustain their league with the top talent in the world. The NWSL has released a statement that not only increases the maximum salary for their top players to $50,000 but also gives an additional $300,000 per club to pay top talent that meet certain criteria. 

The criteria to be eligible for the additional dough is as follows:

• NWSL Best XI or Second XI for either of the two most recent seasons (2019, 2018)

• International players who have more than three caps for their national team in the prior 24 months

• NWSL MVP, Golden Boot, Rookie of the Year or Defender of the Year winner for one of the two most recent seasons (2019, 2018)

• Domestic players who have completed at least five seasons in the NWSL

• Players who were formerly designated as allocated players by the U.S. or Canada (unless if the player refused the option to be allocated)

• Players previously on a contract that included allocation money

While this is crucial to keep the top talent in the league, it also worth noting that the league has increased their minimum players salary to $20,000. Top talent attracts fans to the league, but its the women who sustain the league while the top talent are gone at international events that keep the league alive. This is huge progress for the NWSL but there is still a long ways to go before women can play in this league as their sole profession.

2. Italy's Women Soccer Stars Restricted to $33,000 a Year

Italian Women's Soccer team celebrates after a World Cup win against China

The Italian Women's Soccer team shocked the world in the 2019 World Cup by making it all the way to the quarterfinals. They set records for the number of people tuning in to watch each of their games. It is said that out of Italy's 60 Million population, 20 Million tuned into watch their games. This is very important for a country that is predominately recognized for their mens national soccer team. 

However, despite their outstanding effort at this years world cup they government still recognizes them as "amateur" soccer players and thus are not allowed to make more than $30,000 euros ($33,000 USD) a year! It is outrageous that the government could treat the players so poorly when they represent the country on the highest levels of the international stage. There is a major lack of respect for these women, but we want them to know we see them, we hear them, and we stand with them. They need our support to continue the fight to get new legislation passed that would reverse the current law. 

3. NWHL Players Pay More Than They Are Payed?

Kimberly Sass Lines Up For The National Anthem 

If you haven't already you need to watch this NESN interview with Kimberly Sass as she tells all about what led to her joining the PWHPA. She reveals that she paid more money to play in the league last year than she was paid by the league.  It is shocking to hear her recant a typical day in her life!

As we've mentioned time and time again her message is she wants little girls to see it, believe it, and dream that they one day could be a professional hockey player as a full time career. She discusses how she is an architect and gets constantly asked why she is working if she is a professional hockey player. The pressures of having to constantly validate and prove yourself as a professional hockey player is unfair to women as they have earned respect but don't receive it. 

It is time for a sustainable league with the top talent in the world to be created. If it is the NWHL great, but the top players and the league need to work it out. If it is not the NWHL, then the top players need to find sponsors and form a league that will be sustainable for younger generations. It is an exciting but also very scary time in women's hockey as they are on the brink of creating a league that could be as strong as the WNBA or to total failure and collapse. We don't know what the future holds but we are here to support any league that wants to grow the game. 

4. Warriors Honor Megan Rapinoe & Sue Bird

                   Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird Recognized by the Warriors on LGBTQ Night

The Warriors recognized Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird this past Wednesday on their annual LGTBQ night. Warriors Team President  Rick Welts said that Rapinoe was arguably one of the most influential athletes in the world. We couldn't agree more Rapinoe has become the face of the USWMNT movement for equal pay. However, Sue Bird is also leader in the WNBA and holds power world wide. They are the definition of a power couple. 

We believe it is worth noting that the couple did a small press conference and noted that they were honored to be recognized by the warriors and that even though San Francisco is a progressive city it is still important to include marginalized communities. They also spoke to how in women's sports LGBTQ athletes are nothing new, but men's sports are very far behind. The couple hopes to make a culture where men feel comfortable and safe enough to come out. It is interesting to think about how their are so many LGBTQ females out in the open but very few men. What can be done to our culture to make the men feel safe?