The success of the US Women's National Soccer Team is undebatable. They've won three World Cups and four Olympic gold medals, they've set record TV ratings, drawn massive crowds, and earned huge revenues for US Soccer. But despite their obvious dominance, and their roster of superstar players, they've endured striking inequality: low pay, poor playing conditions, and limited opportunities to play in professional leagues. The National Team, from leading soccer journalist Caitlin Murray, tells the history of the USWNT from their formation in the 1980s to the run-up to the 2019 World Cup, chronicling both their athletic triumphs and less visible challenges off the pitch. In the wake of their 2015 World Cup victory, the athletes pushed back publicly against the unequal treatment they'd received from FIFA and US Soccer and negotiated a landmark collective bargaining agreement on their own. Murray also tells of the rise and fall of professional leagues in the US, including the burgeoning National Women's Soccer League, an essential part of the women's game. A story of endurance and determination, The National Team is a complete portrait of a beloved and admired team.

About the Author
Caitlin Murray has written about soccer for The New York Times, ESPN, Fox Sports, and the Athletic. She was also The Guardian's correspondent during the 2015 World Cup and followed the U.S. team on their path to victory. Her work has also appeared in The Buffalo News, the Oregonian, the Orlando Sentinel, Minnesota's Star Tribune, and many other publications. She graduated with a degree in journalism from the State University of New York College at Buffalo. A native of Buffalo, New York, she now resides in Portland, Oregon. Follow her at caitlinmurraysoccer.com and @caitlinmurr.



Reviews
"Murray interviewed dozens of players to assemble a moving insider's account of their struggle for respect and attention." -- Financial Times
"Journalist Caitlin Murray's timely history of the team shows how those two kinds of thread have always been intertwined, and she renders in-game heroics and ongoing struggles against an obstinate sports media and U.S. Soccer Federation with equal dynamism" -- Vanity Fair
"sportswriter Murray interviewed almost 100 players and coaches for her history of the U.S. women's national soccer team, which chronicles the squad from its formation in 1985 to its three World Cup championships. Soccer star Brandi Chastain said Murray did "a wonderful job sharing the history, personal stories, and memories of the national team." -- Los Angeles Times
"a book that will quickly bring any fan, casual or expert, up to speed on the team's history." -- Book Riot



Book Information
ISBN 9781419734496
Author Caitlin Murray
Format Hardback
Page Count 352
Imprint Abrams Press
Publisher Abrams
Weight(grams) 610g
Dimensions(mm) 236mm * 162mm * 35mm