NYC celebrates Women’s World Cup winners with parade

“After 15 minutes, I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming”, US head coach Jill Ellis told reporters after the match. “On behalf of all New Yorkers, I am proud to honor these exemplary athletes and show our appreciation to their accomplishments on the worldwide stage”. Little pointed to the fact that the USWNT earned $6 million less than the US men’s national team received a year ago after losing in the Round of 16 at the 2014 World Cup. You can hear the crowds everywhere… they’re chanting ‘USA! A 4th floor window on a building near the route was decorated with a homemade sign that reads “Girl Power” with four American flags. “There should be more“. “The only way we’re going to bring about change is if women go after what they want and really work for it, push for it, and demand it”, she says. Gov. Andrew Cuomo was on a separate float.

For the young girls in the crowd who play soccer, the chance to cheer on their sports heroes is huge.

“But having this parade here in New York City was one of the best moments of my entire life”, Lloyd said after getting a key to the city. Instead, office workers throw out armfuls of shredded paper! But Friday, in the New York City sunshine, that conversation was set aside for a proper acknowledgement of an incredible season. Among the famous people honored: Theodore Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Dwight Eisenhower, Gen. Douglas MacArthur and Albert Einstein. But since 1999, the honor has been bestowed exclusively on local championship-winning teams like the Yankees and Giants, meaning Friday’s parade will be a break with precedent. The Manhattan borough president, Gale A. Brewer, led a push for the parade by sending a letter to Mayor de Blasio on Monday and starting an online petition. Instead they wore red, white and blue in support of the US women’s national soccer team, which handily defeated Japan, 5-2, Sunday in Canada to take home its third women’s World Cup victory, and its first since 1999.

Associated Press Writer Colleen Long contributed to this report.

The USA was the second seed overall throughout the tournament.

In the conversation with Maddow, Rapinoe’s teammate Ali Krieger reveled in the attention the World Cup has brought to the women’s game, but also expressed hope it would carry over to discussions of professional compensation: “For New York to be paying attention like this is just unbelievable”, she said.