Utah Royals Players Among USWNT In NYC Ticker Tape Parade
Jun 11, 2019, 10:30 PM | Updated: Jul 11, 2019, 12:30 pm
NEW YORK, N.Y. – The United States Women’s National Team celebrated their championship in the FIFA Women’s World Cup with a few friends back on US soil.
There’s no celebration quite like a ticker tape parade down the Canyon of Heroes in New York City.
Thousands lines Broadway to greet the team Wednesday morning.
The championship roster included three players from the Utah Royals FC – Kelley O’Hara, Christen Press and Becky Sauerbrun.
O’hara had some fun interacting with fans along the route. KSL Sports was there when she ran down from the team float a hugged a spectator who answered the Tweet to bring her a drink.
MORE: Royals’ O’Hara Shared Interaction With Fan During USWNT Parade
Kelley O'Hara from Utah Royals FC had an amazing interaction with some of the fans toward the end of the USWNT parade route yesterday. But there's more to the story than just a singular moment. The full story ➡️ https://sports.ksl.com/?p=413088
Posted by KSL Sports on Thursday, July 11, 2019
Press and Sauerbrun were also receiving loud ovations from the crowd.
All three of the Royals players had key roles with the national team on their way to a title.
We even met some of their biggest fans that told us why they love the players so much.
“It’s exciting for the future to know that maybe I’ll have a little girl and she’ll have this soccer team to look up to,” said Katelyn Garofalo, who came out for the parade.
BLESSED! What a day 😴
NYC —> LA pic.twitter.com/9qp47nxJHv
— Christen Press (@ChristenPress) July 11, 2019
The outpouring of love and pride for the team was abundant, not just for winning the championship, also for standing up for more equality in sports.
During a ceremony after the parade at City Hall, many in the crowd started chanting, “Equal pay! Equal pay!”
“It’s really inspirational seeing them, because they are the superior team in the world, and they’re just not getting what they deserve, so seeing them pushing for that and getting young girls involved is really cool,” said Alexandra Kelly.
So great hanging out at @adidasNYC today with some amazing people! Thanks for stopping by and welcoming us back home! #DareToCreate #CreatedWithAdidas pic.twitter.com/Z0unih1wV1
— Becky Sauerbrunn (@beckysauerbrunn) July 10, 2019
Co-captain Megan Rapinoe has been one of the most vocal members of the team in support for equal pay. She also left a message in her speech at City Hall, saying we all need to be better, still.
“We have to love more. Hate less. We’ve got to listen more, and talk less,” Rapinoe said.
KSL Sports was waiting to talk with our Royals players after the ceremony, but security kept all the media at arm’s length while the team quickly jumped on a bus to go catch a flight.
They were off to the ESPY Awards in Los Angeles where the celebration continued.
