Olympic medal and world championship winners, the U.S. Women’s National Ice Hockey team is certainly successful in all of their debuts. Although they have titles to show their accomplishments, their pay is no mirror to how well they have performed.

            For months the team has been battling over their new contract with USA Hockey. They were protesting their low wages and tried to renegotiate with the organization. All 23 players threatened to boycott the upcoming world championship in protest of how little they were getting paid in contrast to their male counterparts. Lower pay for female professional athletes is nothing new. It does not matter which sport they play, women get paid less than men, falling at around 10% less of a male athlete’s wages.

            The ice hockey team was not going to settle for their contracts. USA Hockey tried to recruit other players to fill in the place of those that did not want to participate but those players declined the offers, standing by the female athletes. Other male athletes also stood by their side and showed their support on social media. Social media went crazy and everyone was riling up to support the team. The result was in their favor. Their pay went from $1,500 a year per player to $70,000 a year per player, with some added bonuses.

Submitted by Milagros Karamanos Mellino