Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports
ORLANDO, Fla. — United States and Canada women’s players stood in solidarity for gender equality and transgender rights on Thursday ahead of their SheBelieves Cup match at Exploria Stadium. Players from each team wore purple tape on one wrist to represent gender equality and on the other wrist, white tape with “Defend Trans Joy” written on it.
The display for equality comes in response to the Canadian players’ ongoing fight with their federation for equal treatment with the men. Canada players say they are playing the SheBelieves Cup in protest after initially trying to strike last week before the Canadian Soccer Association threatened them with legal action.
In a statement issued by Canadian players before Thursday’s match, players said they “will continue to wear purple until our association has standards in place that ensure equal treatment and opportunity.” Players said this week that they want increased staffing and resources equal to what the men’s team got at their World Cup…
