‘It’s not a moment, it’s a movement’: Fans energized about women’s soccer ahead of NWSL Championship
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Supporters of women’s soccer want people to know the future of the sport is female, and Saturday’s NWSL championship will be a testament to that.
“The truth is we’re seeing record viewership, record attendance, record media rights, it’s not true anymore,” said TOGXTHR co-founder Jessica Robertson.
Long over are the days when women’s sports take a backseat. That’s why Robertson co-founded TOGXTHR, a brand dedicated to giving people a glimpse into the present.
“If you’re a brand partner, if you’re a brand sponsor, and you’re thinking about whether or not you should invest in women’s sports, you come to an event like this, and it’s almost bad business if you don’t,” said Robertson.
The company was co-founded by athletes Alex Morgan, Sue Bird, and Simone Manuel and Chloe Kim. It’s all about telling the stories that go untold among female athletes when their uniforms come off.
“In order for them to be treated equally, they need the same access to high-quality facilities and training and performance as male athletes do because the overall product in the end, the ones that we consume as entertainment will be better in the end,” said Robertson.
These stories are being told through social media, documentaries, and anywhere people are willing to listen. Her message is that investing in women’s sports pays off, and the fans in the stands say they agree.
“I think 100 percent, we should be celebrating it equally or even more because it’s just such a big feat to become this popular in the U.S. and it’s just been a long time coming,” said soccer fan Jane Laramee.
Laramee alongside a group of other fans, flew into Kansas City from Vermont on Friday ahead of the NWSL Championship. They say they are in awe at how much women’s soccer has grown and are excited to be cheering alongside other fans in the stands.
“It’s really cool to be here since we all played soccer in high school and it’s important to see other women playing at this level, it’s really empowering,” said soccer fan Remy Duke.
They say they plan to root for players like Trinity Rodman of the Washington Spirit who have made their mark on the league.
KCTV5 caught up with Orlando Pride Midfielder Haley McCutcheon on Thursday to talk about her personal ties to the Kansas City area. McCutcheon grew up playing soccer at Heritage Park Field in Olathe and said her family will be cheering her on in the stands on Saturday.
“Parents driving me to practice and just love the game from when I was little so just to be here, and again being able to play in front of friends and family at an exclusively women’s stadium is so exciting,” said McCutcheon.
As for what the future holds for women’s soccer, Robertson says she’s hoping for parity. She said she wants to see women’s soccer continue to grow, more investments and more female athletes receive the recognition they deserve.
“Female athletes have been ahead of culture and culture is finally catching up,” said Robertson.
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