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Cleveland Browns DE Myles Garrett calls for 'equal pay' for U.S. Women's National Soccer Team

Following its 13-0 win in its World Cup opener, Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett took to Instagram to call for 'equal for for equal play' for the USWNT.
Credit: David Richard
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) looks to rush the passer against Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Jake Matthews (70) in the second half of a game at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio on Sunday, November 11, 2018.

Like many, Myles Garrett was watching as the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team blew out Thailand in its 2019 World Cup opener.

But rather than celebrating the team's 13-0 victory, the Cleveland Browns star defensive end took to social media to share a different sentiment, calling for "equal pay for equal play" in a string of tweets.

"Pay, to me, should be based off of performance," Garrett wrote in one of his four public posts on the topic. "Yes viewership has something to do with it of course, but the perpetual disrespect of women’s sports because of the sexist thought process of women not performing up to men’s standards when it comes to sports is unbelievable.

"Comparatively, the difference in the amount of pub and exposure women’s sports gets compared to men’s is significant. The idea that women can’t entertain or dazzle us with talent as men do in some sports is backwards."

Credit: Gary Landers
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) celebrates after sacking Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton in the first half of an AFC North Division game at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati on Sunday, November 26, 2017.

The conversation of equal pay for the USWNT has been at the forefront of the sport dating back to the team's World Cup championship in 2015. In 2016, five players from the team -- including stars Hope SOlo, Carli Lloyd and Alex Morgan -- filed a wage-discrimination action against the U.S. Soccer Federation, citing that the women's team was paid about one-fourth of what the men's team was, despite generating more than $20 million in revenue.

In 2017, a collective bargaining agreement was struck between the team and U.S. Soccer, which increased players' pay and improved match bonuses. It didn't however, guarantee equal pay between the women's and men's national team, the latter of which hasn't ever placed higher than eighth in the World Cup since 1930.

Earlier this year, all 28 members of the U.S. team filed a gender discrimination lawsuit against the United States Soccer Federation, claiming "institutional gender discrimination. The lawsuit, which sought equal pay and treatment, was filed on International Women's Day.

Credit: AP
United States' Rose Lavelle centre, celebrates with teammates after scoring her team's seventh goal during the Women's World Cup Group F soccer match between the United States and Thailand at the Stade Auguste-Delaune in Reims, France, Tuesday, June 11, 2019. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

With the start of the World Cup, the conversation surrounding the lawsuit -- which remains ongoing -- has only picked up, especially in light of the USWNT's dominant start to its championship defense. Taking one look at social media on Tuesday, it wasn't hard to find allies for the players, including Garrett, who deemed the pay gap between men and women "way too substantial."

"Sports is sports," he tweeted. "Doesn’t matter who is playing it. Those who play it at the highest level and exceptionally well should be represented and paid exceptionally in return."

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