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14 Reasons Why Women’s Soccer is Superior

Woman painting face of female soccer fan
Croatian female soccer fans painting their faces” by marcoverch is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Soccer is undoubtedly the most popular sport in the world, and women’s professional soccer takes the sport up one more notch.

To be clear, this isn’t about whether women can beat men if they were to compete against each other. And this isn’t about how some U15 boys team beat the USWNT, which so many people like to reference. This about the enjoyment I get from the sport and how amazing the athletes are in their own right. Basically, this is about which sport I want to support and promote.

So, here’s my list of why women’s soccer is a superior sport.

1. Women’s soccer has the best fans

Women’s soccer fans are relatively tame and respectful. They don’t chant rude, crass, and crude sayings. By and large, women’s soccer fans understand sportsmanship and keep their chants, and their attitudes, classy. If you’ve ever been to, or read about, some men’s soccer games across the world, you’ll understand what I mean. Mexico’s national soccer games are an excellent example of how inappropriate some fan can be.

To further the point, here is a chant that the Rose City Riveters cry out when supporting their NWSL Portland Thorns FC team:

Bon, bon, bon, bon
Sing wherever we go
Bon, bon, bon, bon
We are the Rose City-o
Bon, bon, bon, bon
The Thorns in red will lead us
Bon, bon, bon, bon
Take off you can not beat us

– Chant from the Portland Thorns FC fan club Rose City Reveters.

This is in contrast with a Nashville SC’s chant:

Ooooooooohhhhhhhhhhh (Drum Hit)
THAT’S ONE! ( keep going for more goals.)
Thank you (opposing goal keepers name)
May we have another?
He Shoots,
He Scores,
YOU SUCK!
(Goalkeepers Name x3) YOU SUCK!
It’s all your fault,
It’s all your fault,
It’s all your fault.

– Chant from the Nashville SC fan club The Roadies

Granted, Nashville SC’s chant isn’t too harsh, but it still doesn’t evoke good sportsmanship. However, I’ve seen shock and confusion on the faces of young children when they first hear this chant. They watch their parents scream taunts with vitriol and call out opponents by name. This isn’t setting a good example for the youth and, frankly, it’s embarrassing to watch adults act so childish.

2. Women’s soccer games don’t turn violent

There are so many examples of violence at male sporting events. This isn’t something that is isolated to just men’s soccer. Here are just a few examples:

Really, this list could go on and on.

As far as I’m aware, the only violence at a women’s soccer game was when Sam Kerr, playing for Chelsea in the Women’s Champions League, body checked a fan that wouldn’t get off the pitch. For the record, I don’t usually condone violence, but, in this case, I made an exception.

Concisely, feeling safe at a sporting event is paramount.

3. Female soccer players aren’t arrested…too frequently

Along the same lines of the violent games, female soccer players seem to be tamer too. As a sports fan, I like knowing that I can root for a player that isn’t a delinquent. I sure don’t like finding out that one of my favorite players turns out to be some criminal. This is partially because I don’t want to buy a jersey only to find out that they player is a low-life creep. Then, I have to throw away a perfectly good jersey and spend money to buy another one in the hopes that this new person won’t also be a creep.

As proof, this article by The Sportster lists out the top 15 soccer players that went to jail: all male. In addition, this is a list by Wikipedia of sportspeople convicted of a crime: overwhelmingly male. Even Ronaldinho has been arrested and Lionel Messi sentenced to jail.

As for the women’s soccer, I only know of two women that have been arrested: Aminata Diallo and Hope Solo. Diallo, a Paris-St. Germain player, was accused of attacking a teammate, Kheira Hamraoui. Hope Solo, former USWNT keeper, has been arrested multiple times. Unfortunately, this last time she was driving while impaired with her children in her car.

Ultimately, men’s professional athletes are still arrested at a much higher rate than women’s soccer players.

4. Female soccer players aren’t full of themselves

Have you ever watched a young, new player enter their sport and they were full of promise and humility? Cut to a few years in the league and all of a sudden they are full of hubris? Unfortunately, this happens often. A young, upcoming player still wants to prove themselves to their coaches and their fans. But, after some time, they get cocky and arrogant like they are owed adoration. I’ve seen this type of transformation in several different sports, and I’ve come to the conclusion that fame and fortune are too blame. The more money and more celebration thrown at the athlete has a tendency to inflate their ego. The Top Tens has a fairly good list of athletes that fit this pattern: Tiger Woods, Cristiano Ronaldo, Tom Brady, Lebron James, etc.

Thankfully, female soccer players haven’t really had this same issue in the sport. While there are a few that get too cocky (Megan Rapinoe and Hope Solo come to mind), by and large these athletes are down-to-earth. The two reasons that this may be the case is that women’s soccer doesn’t offer the same salaries, nor do they offer the same amount of fame. These players aren’t mega millionaires, and many aren’t even recognized across the world like male athletes. Yet, they still play because they love the game.

All in all, it makes watching the sport so much more enjoyable when the athletes are still humble.

5. Female soccer players are tough

If you watch a men’s professional soccer game, you will see men rolling around on the ground as if they were dying. They grab their leg and roll around trying to get the ref’s attention and draw a penalty. On replay, it’s a coin toss as to whether the player was even touched (here’s looking at you Neymar Jr.). This flopping has been well documented, and it is detested by most fans.

This is a great video on how frustrated I am when I watch these flops.

Next, go watch a women’s professional soccer game. These women actually STAY ON THEIR FEET! Imagine that! Not only do they stay on their feet, they don’t cry and complain. They stand up, fix their shin pads, and walk away. If you’ve ever watched Carli Lloyd, Julie Ertz, Sophia Smith, or Rose Lavelle then you’ll understand what I’m talking about. If you haven’t seen them, these women get into the thick of it, get knocked down, and then get up without complaints or whining. Sure, we do have a few like Alex Morgan, Tobin Heath, and Lindsey Horan that like to complain, but it is nowhere near the extent of the men.

It’s obnoxious to watch grown adults flop around, and it really ruins the flow of the game.

6. Fewer Fouls in Women’s Soccer

And speaking of ruining the flow of the game, let’s discuss fouls. I’ve noticed over the years that the number of fouls in the men’s game has grown. They foul any chance they can get. Any time someone comes near them, they try to slide tackle, pull a jersey, wrestle someone to the ground. I get that some of this is necessary and part of the game. However, do they really need to foul every time the ball comes near?

I much prefer to watch the women’s soccer games where the fouls are somewhat bearable, which average around 15 per game. This is enough fouls that players can still throw around their weight while also maintaining a flow to the game.

After all, too many fouls and the game starts to feel like football: start, stop, start, stop. Too few fouls and the game starts too feel too noncompetitive. The women’s games have struck a balance between the two.

7. Women’s soccer hits new milestones all the time

Women’s professional soccer in the United States is still relatively new and growing. This means that most games contain a first. First to reach a goal, first to reach a milestone, first team achievement, etc. Being a part of teams’ firsts carries significance and, as a fan, I can look back and realize that I was a part of history.

I’ve experienced several firsts with the KC Current. I was there when they got their first club win on August 14, 2021. I was there when they announced their new team name and logo on October 30, 2021. I was there for their first playoff game on May 4, 2022 at the Challenge Cup. I was there when they broke their attendance record on June 4, 2022 with 7,954 fans. And I plan on being at so many more firsts.

As I look back on all the firsts for the KC Current club and can’t help but feel attached and proud that I was there with them for some of the most important moments.

8. Women’s soccer games are chill

Women’s soccer has a similar vibe to baseball games where things are chill. People are there to relax, watch the game, and enjoy each other’s company. We like to arrive several hours early and tailgate with good food, drinks (if you’re into that), games like cornhole, and even some live entertainment. It’s also a time to kick around the soccer ball, and kids can run and play. Even if you aren’t a member of the fan club, you’re welcomed by everyone and always invited to join in the fun.

Once the game starts, the vibes don’t change. Everyone remains respectful and cheers on their team. More to the point, you don’t hear ugly chants or nasty taunts, you won’t even hear it directed towards the refs when they make a bad call.

After the game, the vibe continues. There’s no pushing or shoving to get out of the stadium. People don’t harass the opposing fans. Most importantly, people take turns getting out of the parking lot without horns blaring or police involvement.

Overall, it’s almost like having a large summer backyard BBQ before every game, and who wouldn’t enjoy that?

9. Women’s soccer players are accessible

You have a really good chance of getting an autograph or seeing a professional soccer player after a women’s game. There are many reasons this is the case:

  1. See #1. Women’s soccer has the best fans. We don’t push and shove to get autographs. We let everyone have a turn. We love seeing the kids happy too, so don’t be surprised to see adults let the kids jump in line to meet a player.
  2. The athletes are just as awesome as the fans. See #4. These athletes aren’t full of themselves. They come out after the game to sign autographs and thank the fans. They are generous and patient, and the fans appreciate them all the more.
  3. There just aren’t as many fans. Let’s face the fact that women’s soccer games doesn’t have the same attendance as an NFL, MLB, NHL, or NBA game. So, the odds that you get to meet your favorite player is much higher because you don’t have to contend with all those other fans.

10. Women’s soccer teams have great giveaways

This goes hand-in-hand with the fact that women’s soccer needs all the support they can get, so they go all out to make the fans happy. This means that every game you get a handout like a drawstring bag, poster, caricature, towel, hat, professional photo, etc. As a fan, this means that every game you feel appreciated and valued.

Granted, many other sports offer similar giveaways. However, other sports give out 1,000 giveaways to roughly 50,000 people. That means you’d have to get to the game early and forego your tailgate party just to get one. Conversely, women’s soccer games usually give the same amount of giveaways but there are less than 10,000 fans. So, your odds of receiving a giveaway are much, much higher.

11. Being a women’s soccer fan now is being cool before it’s cool

Right now, being a fan of women’s soccer is like being part of a secret club. I can’t just walk around talking to people about it. For one, many people still aren’t into soccer. And two, I’m too passionate to hold back my feelings when people don’t take it seriously. Therefore, I feel like I’m part of this underground world and that part of my mission is to seek out others that understand. But it won’t be this way for long.

According to FIFA’s president Gianni Infantino, soccer will be North America’s biggest sport by 2026. Soccer as a whole has been growing in the United States. This is evidenced by soccer overtaking the NHL as the 4th most popular sport in the country. But the sport will blow up in popularity when North American hosts the men’s World Cup in 2026.

And don’t discount that the Women’s World Cup is next year and FIFA ranks the USWNT in first place as of June 17, 2022. This ranking has a high probability of determining the winner, so expect the USWNT to come out victorious, which will exponentially increase the popularity of the sport.

In addition, more professional soccer teams are being created and more money pumped into the sport. Take for example that the MLS added Charlotte FC in 2022 and will be adding Sacramento Republic FC (hopefully) and St. Louis City SC in 2023. The NWSL are seeing success of their own too with the addition of four expansion teams in two years: Racing Louisville FC, KC Current, San Diego Wave, and Angel City FC.

This is all to say that I am a fan of women’s soccer before it is cool to be a fan of women’s soccer.

12. Women’s soccer players are smart

One of the best parts of being a women’s soccer fan is that I am inspired by the athletes. These women are smart, goal driven, and so much more than soccer players. They are activists, they are professionals, and they are entrepreneurs. Many of them have graduate from some of the most rigorous schools across the country such as Harvard and Stanford.

Here are just some of the players that excel on and off the field:

As Johann Wolfgang von Goethe said, “Tell me with whom you associate, and I will tell you who you are.” For this reason, I am glad to support women that are successful in many areas of their lives.

13. Women’s soccer games are still affordable

Christian Pulisic of the USMNT made a comment recently about the lack of fans in the stadium. I’ll admit that I looked into going to USMNT’s game as Children’s Mercy Park in KC recently. That was until I saw the price of the ticket. Most of the tickets were listed over $100. I couldn’t justify spending that kind of money on a game where the players were average, the game was a friendly, and the team wasn’t a team that I’d been dying to see. This kind of expense just wasn’t worth it.

Alternatively, I was able to buy KC Current season tickets that were 11 rows up in the middle of the field for an average of $39 per game. In fact, SeatGeek lists the average ticket price of most 2022 NWSL games at $31. This is a much more affordable option that allows me to see all the games, and not just one game that doesn’t mean much. Also, because the tickets are affordable, I’m able to splurge on championship and playoff games.

For reference, the average cost of attending a game from some other leagues are:

14. Women’s soccer fans are the best

I know this sounds like a repeat of #1, but I can’t stress this enough. Women’s soccer fans really are the best! At the games, I feel safe and like I’m with people that really get me. Also, as I’ve mentioned before, the fans are respectful to the refs, the players, and other fans. Likewise, they are also welcoming as evidenced by the last two game that I attended.

At the second to last game that I attended my family and I were invited to tailgate with the fan club. Mind you, we didn’t know anyone or had even spoken to anyone from this group. Yet, they offered us chairs, food, and drinks. They didn’t care who we were or where we were was from, and they didn’t ask for anything in exchange. It would be great if the rest of the world were so generous.

The most recent game had similar overtone. I attended solo this game solo. While watching the game, I struck up a conversation with another group of ladies. We laughed and cheered the team on and just hung out with no drama or expectations. It was amazing and freeing to meet people that were into the game as much as I was. By the end of the game we were even discussing carpooling to future games. It’s these bonds that make me really appreciate the fan base and keeps me coming back.

Still not a fan?

Don’t believe me about all the hype? That’s okay. Maybe one day you’ll come around. If that day ever comes, the other fans and I will welcome you with open arms.

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