espy awards

Alex Morgan at 2019 ESPYS: Women 'are more than just athletes'

Wednesday, July 10, 2019
As she accepted the ESPY Award for Best Female Athlete, Alex Morgan called for the momentum behind the team's call for gender equality to continue even after the World Cup.
LOS ANGELES -- As she accepted the ESPY Award for Best Female Athlete, Alex Morgan called for the momentum behind the team's call for gender equality to continue even after the World Cup.

"Thanks to ESPN for this award and also a big thank you for investing in the [National Women's Soccer League]. With our new television deal, we obviously enjoy the success on the biggest stage, but when the World Cup is behind us, it is the professional league that we need to continuously lift up and grow," she said.
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"Investment in women and girls should not only occur on the playing field but in more storytelling of badass, amazing women who continue to show that we are more than just athletes," Morgan added.

Click here to see a full list of 2019 ESPYS winners

Earlier Wednesday, team members joined New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, as he signed a bill that expands gender pay equality in the state. He said women's soccer players should be paid the same as male players.

U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat, introduced a bill Tuesday that would bar federal funding for the men's 2026 World Cup until the U.S. Soccer Federation provides equal pay to the women's and men's teams.
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At a City Hall rally after the parade, the presidential candidate de Blasio, also a Democrat, honored the team with symbolic keys to the city, saying it "brought us together" and "showed us so much to make us hopeful."



After chants for "Equal pay!" from the crowd, Cordeiro said women "deserve fair and equitable pay. And together I believe we can get this done."

PHOTOS: Athletes hit the red carpet for the 2019 ESPYS
Laila Ali arrives at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.AP
Professional golfer Brooks Koepka, left, and Jena Sims arrive at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.AP
Gabrielle Union, left, and Dwyane Wade arrive at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/APAP
Sugar Ray Leonard arrives at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.AP
Sky Katz arrives at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.AP
Julius Erving, right, and Dorys Madden arrive at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.AP
NFL player Rob Gronkowski, of the New England Patriots, left, and Camille Kostek arrive at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.AP
Ninja, left, and Jessica Goch arrive at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.AP
Elle Fanning arrives at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.AP
NBA player Lonzo Ball, of the New Orleans Pelicans, arrives at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.AP
Usher arrives at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.AP
Olympic runner Colleen Quigley arrives at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.AP
Sister Mary Jo Sobieck arrives at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.AP
Laila Ali arrives at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.AP
Triple H, left, and Stephanie McMahon, chief brand officer of WWE, arrive at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.AP
Eugenio Derbez arrives at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.AP
NBA player Lonzo Ball, of the New Orleans Pelicans, arrives at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.AP
NFL player Jared Goff, of the Los Angeles Rams, arrives at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.AP
Sugar Ray Leonard arrives at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.AP
NFL player William Jackson III, of the Cincinnati Bengals, arrives at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.AP
NFL player Sam Martin, of the Detroit Lions, left, and gymnast Nastia Liukin arrive at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.AP
NBA player Dwight Howard, of the Memphis Grizzlies, arrives at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.AP
Sabrina Greenlee arrives at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.AP
Katie Austin, left, and Denise Austin arrive at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.AP
Katie Austin, left, and Denise Austin arrive at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.AP
Paul Pierce arrives at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.AP
NFL player Daron Payne, of the Washington Redskins, right, and Yung Yaun arrive at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.AP
Taylor Bisciotti attends The 2019 ESPYs at Microsoft Theater on July 10, 2019, in Los Angeles, California.Creative Content
Jake Olson attends The 2019 ESPYs at Microsoft Theater on July 10, 2019, in Los Angeles, California.Creative Content
Tom Schaar attends The 2019 ESPYs at Microsoft Theater on July 10, 2019, in Los Angeles, California.Creative Content
Trae Young attends The 2019 ESPYs at Microsoft Theater on July 10, 2019, in Los Angeles, California.Creative Content
Terry Smith (L) and Sabrina Greenlee attend The 2019 ESPYs at Microsoft Theater on July 10, 2019, in Los Angeles, California.Creative Content
Landry Shamet (L) and guest attend The 2019 ESPYs at Microsoft Theater on July 10, 2019, in Los Angeles, California.Creative Content
Katelyn Ohashi attends The 2019 ESPYs at Microsoft Theater on July 10, 2019, in Los Angeles, California.Creative Content
Katelyn Ohashi attends The 2019 ESPYs at Microsoft Theater on July 10, 2019, in Los Angeles, California.Creative Content
(L-R) Rod Hampton, Markita Hampton, and PJ Hampton attend The 2019 ESPYs at Microsoft Theater on July 10, 2019, in Los Angeles, California.Creative Content
Tom Schaar and Caroline Sullivan attend The 2019 ESPYs at Microsoft Theater on July 10, 2019, in Los Angeles, California.Creative Content
PJ Hampton, George Langberg, and Landry Shamet attend The 2019 ESPYs at Microsoft Theater on July 10, 2019, in Los Angeles, California.Creative Content
Tyron Woodley (R) and guest attend The 2019 ESPYs at Microsoft Theater on July 10, 2019, in Los Angeles, California.Creative Content
UFC fighter Tyron Woodley arrives at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.AP
Megan Wollover, left, and Tracy Morgan arrive at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.AP
Kesha Smith attends The 2019 ESPYs at Microsoft Theater on July 10, 2019, in Los Angeles, California.Creative Content
Tracy Morgan arrives at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.AP
Nastia Liukin arrives at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.AP
Paige Spiranic attends The 2019 ESPYs at Microsoft Theater on July 10, 2019, in Los Angeles, California.AP
Landry Shamet attends The 2019 ESPYs at Microsoft Theater on July 10, 2019, in Los Angeles, California.Creative Content
Lauren Zima attends The 2019 ESPYs at Microsoft Theater on July 10, 2019, in Los Angeles, California.Creative Content
Coach Rob Mendez attends The 2019 ESPYs at Microsoft Theater on July 10, 2019, in Los Angeles, California.Creative Content
Cathy Kelley attends The 2019 ESPYs at Microsoft Theater on July 10, 2019, in Los Angeles, California.Creative Content
Sabrina Greenlee attends The 2019 ESPYs at Microsoft Theater on July 10, 2019, in Los Angeles, California.Creative Content
Cathy Kelley attends The 2019 ESPYs at Microsoft Theater on July 10, 2019, in Los Angeles, California.Creative Content
Kirstie Ennis attends The 2019 ESPYs at Microsoft Theater on July 10, 2019, in Los Angeles, California.Creative Content


The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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