Following their successful battle for pay equity, the USWNT was honored at the 2023 ESPY Awards with the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage. Awarded annually, the honor celebrates those in the world of sports who “[possess] strength in the face of adversity, courage in the face of peril, and the willingness to stand up for their beliefs no matter what the cost,” according to ESPN.
“As everyone who has been there for us throughout this long journey toward equality knows, our fight is not over,” said Christen Press in her portion of the acceptance speech. “When you play for the United States Women’s National Team, you are handed a torch and given the responsibility to carry the torch as far and as high as possible for the sake of women’s equality. As a team and with the support and encouragement of countless others, we have been proud to carry it forward. Now, we are looking to build a world where we create thousands of torches, millions, and the equality we have achieved spreads throughout the world.”