they are THE Champions of the world

It was a euphoric scene of flittering ticker tape in the streets of lower Manhattan. Thousands of fans repping jerseys of red, white and blue flooded the Canyon of Heroes last week to catch a glimpse of the 23 members of the U.S. women’s national soccer team in a parade to celebrate the team’s fourth FIFA World Cup title. The players danced atop their floats, thanking the fans along the way for their support throughout the month-long tournament, which they said was integral to their victory.

The players didn’t stop dancing when they arrived at City Hall — where Mayor Bill de Blasio presented each with a key to the city — strutting across the stage as Good Morning America’s Robyn Roberts introduced them to more cheering fans.

Much More Than Just a Soccer Team It was clear as players spoke at the podium that Wednesday’s festivities encompassed more than a celebration of their athletic dominance. It was a celebration too of the bigger messages the team represents, such as equality, inclusion and compassion.

“This group is so resilient, is so tough, has such a sense of humor,” Megan Rapinoe said at the podium. “It’s just so badass. There’s nothing that can faze this group. We’re chilling. We got tea-sippin’, we got celebrations. We have pink hair and purple hair, we have tattoos and dreadlocks. We got white girls and black girls and everything in between. Straight girls and gay girls. I couldn’t be more proud to be a co-captain with Carli [Lloyd] and Alex [Morgan] of this team. It’s my absolute honor to lead this team out on the field.”

It was a message received with wild applause and waving of American and LGBT pride flags. The crowd frequently bellowed chants of “equal pay,” particularly when U.S. Soccer Federation President Carlos Cordeiro took the stage. Just months before the World Cup, the team sued the U.S. Soccer Federation for gender discrimination, citing wages and working conditions that are inferior to those of their male counterparts, who’ve had much less success on the world stage.

Rapinoe, though, thanked Cordeiro, as well as the entire staff at U.S. Soccer, saying she trusted him to make things rights.

“Everyone in the position of power gets booed. I think that’s a sign of affection though right?” Rapinoe joked. “I’m going to stick my neck out there a little bit: I’m going to endorse Carlos. I think he’s with us. I think he’s on the right side of things. He’s proven every day since he’s been in office for us that he’s with us.”

“I look forward to holding those feet to the fire,” she added.

“Be More, Be Better”

The 34-year-old star ender her speech with a call to action in light of her recent scuttle with President Donald Trump in which she declared she would not visit the White House if the team won.

“We have to be better,” she said. “We have to love more, hate less. We got to listen more and talk less. We got to know that this is everybody’s responsibility. Every single person here, every single person who’s not here, every single person who doesn’t want to be here. Every single person who agrees and doesn’t agree. It’s our responsibility to make this world a better place.”

Rapinoe said that she and her teammates are more than just athletes and that the fans are more than just soccer supporters who tune in every four years — they’re all members of a community.

“This is my charge to everybody,” she said. “Do what you can. Do what you have to do. Step outside yourself. Be more, be better, be bigger than you’ve ever been before. If this team is any representation of what you can be when you do that, please take this as an example. This group is incredible. We took so much on our shoulders to be here today, to celebrate with you today, and we did it with a smile. So do the same for us, please, I ask you.”

Just before confetti fell over City Hall, Rapinoe shouted with her fearless flare, “New York City, you’re the motherf---ing best!”