Comments on: Bachelorette Will Equal Women’s World Cup Ratings http://www.rnningfool.com/16843/bachelorette-will-equal-womens-world-cup-ratings Burning Money Wed, 24 Jun 2015 14:08:20 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.5 By: Brookes http://www.rnningfool.com/16843/bachelorette-will-equal-womens-world-cup-ratings#comment-7481 Wed, 24 Jun 2015 14:08:20 +0000 http://www.rnningfool.com/?p=16843#comment-7481 ESPN has been running a series called “9 for IX” – a women’s geared mini-documentary series in the same vein as their “30 for 30”. One such episode covered the 1999 WWC, where the US beat China in the final in PK’s. The episode traces the rise of interest and support of the team, etc. as a group of young women making about $300 to play became icons in the sport stateside. When they gathered all of the players together, the one sentiment they shared was that they hoped that “we would be the beginning of something…that future groups would build on what we accomplished. We didn’t want to be a one-and-done story regarding US womens soccer.” The US has not won a WWC since 1999.

Since 1999, the Womens National Team has been incredibly successful by most accounts, and is widely considered one of the best in the world. This alone should spawn some interest – the fact that the US is actually one of the BEST in a sport we are traditionally only above-average in. It helps that other major soccer powers like Spain, Portugal, Italy, Argentina, etc. tend to not place a huge emphasis on their womens squad vs. their mens. However, our roster at this WWC is the oldest of any team…so our window for success with this group is closing quickly.

While there are less “dynamic” players in the women’s game, the pace and play is a bit different than the men’s, this is still a massive international tournament representing nations. As Laur noted, these women are probably the best female athletes in the world – from any sport. And we are one of the best teams in the world – but still kind of a sleeper team. That should be captivating to a sports-crazed, under-dog driven US fan market.

I’d certainly prefer my daughter to grow up learning leadership, loss, teamwork and dedication from the USWNT than any lesson a Bachelorette could teach her – especially this one.

Maybe the women from the national team should all get one-on-one dates with the reject guys from the Bachelorette after a win. Or make Hope Solo the next Bachelorette.

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