AUGUST 2019 • LONGISLANDPRESS.COM 13
SHARE U.S. WOMEN’S SOCCER WORLD CUP WIN
of second place. So, going into the
tournament we don’t even think of
losing. Even if we didn’t play like it
at times, we still always had to believe
that we’re going to get it done no matter
what.
Which was the more intimidating
crowd: playing Brazil in the 2016
Rio de Janeiro Olympics or playing
France in Paris during this World
Cup? France in Paris. The entire stadium
was unbelievable. When they
scored their first goal in the 80th
minute, I’ve never heard a crowd like
that, or the momentum shift like that,
in my entire career.
You had a wild run after winning
it all: after-party in Paris, plane to
New York, Good Morning America,
ticker-tape parade, plane to L.A.,
ESPYs, after-parties in L.A., all in
a matter of three days. How did
you all manage to do that? We’re
not used to partying. We’ve been
preparing for the World Cup for
four months. That was almost just
as tiring as going through the World
Cup. What’s special about our team is
that we’re friends for so long from so
many different places and these relationships
are authentic and genuine
and run deep so what’s better than
being able to go through all of
that with your 22 best friends?
You met a ton of celebrities
and high-profile athletes
along the way. Which
one left you the most
starstruck? LeBron
James had us at his
Uninterrupted Party
honoring the USWNT
and brought us up
on stage. LeBron
is someone I’ve
always looked up
to and is a pure
sign of greatness.
For him to honor us
and take time out of his
party to celebrate us and
celebrate women was so
special.
Sandra Bullock, Secret
Deodorant, and
a number of other
notable entities have
now championed your fight for
equal pay. Where do you think the
World Cup victory now puts you
in that battle? When you win you
get a bonus. When the men’s team
wins they make six times what we
do. This brought that fact to light.
Not only that, but this victory is
going to inspire the next generation
of women’s soccer players. How
can you not pay attention
to a team that has won
more World Cups
than any other
country?
Do you and
the team discuss
the controversies
and negative
press or is it
more accepted
as a byproduct
of all
the success?
When we do
something
and people
are
talking about it we do wonder whether
people would say the same things
of a men’s team. They say soccer is
boring, we score 13 goals, they say
we’re too arrogant. You can’t please
everyone and we know that.
What about your flag incident? With
me putting the flag on the ground and
people saying it was intentional,
I apologize if anyone felt
offended in any way,
but that was never
my intention. I’m
so proud and
honored to represent
the best
country in the
world. Every
time I put that
jersey on it’s
so special for
me and I do
not take
it for
granted.
Do you ever read comments sections?
I actually turned my comments
off after the Cup because the
people who thought I dropped the
flag on purpose were just relentless.
It doesn’t bother me much but little
girls are watching and looking at
my page and if you’re going to alter
the way they think of me that’s what
bothers me because I want to inspire
young girls. That’s what this is about,
it isn’t about politics.
What would you say to someone
who doesn’t consider you and your
teammates to be good role models
for young girls? I’d say if we’re not
good role models then who is? We
represent unity, we represent inclusion,
we represent love, we represent
competitiveness, we represent discipline,
hard work, sacrifice. Every
single thing you’d want your child
to look up to, that’s what we embody.
We’re winners. For me, there’s no
better role model than the USWNT.
These women are powerful, strong,
fierce females, and they stand up for
what’s right.
How did our parents influence you?
Well, Mom played soccer, so growing
up she was always someone I would
practice with. Our dad was a rugby
player, so I got my tenacity
and competitiveness and
fierce attitude from him. It
was a good combination.
What’s next? Well my
National Women’s
Soccer League season
is going on right
now and this league
needs exposure.
Needs more viewers,
more fans,
more writers
writing about it,
more money in
it. Making that
happen is my focus
right now. Then there’s
the Tokyo Olympics
next summer. Next
up is an Olympic gold
medal.
Crystal Dunn, pictured next to Allie Long
on the cover, also grew up on Long Island.
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