This is a particularly big year for women’s soccer. The World Cup will kick off on June 7, 2019, and all signs point to it being the most competitive edition yet.
As that tournament comes to an end next July, The Equalizer will be celebrating its 10-year anniversary. So, this is a big year ahead for us, too.
We know that women’s soccer deserves the same coverage as men’s soccer – and that you can substitute the word “soccer” for “sports.” It is that fundamental belief on which we were founded in 2009, and it remains how we operate today. We are the most comprehensive outlet covering the U.S. women’s national team, National Women’s Soccer League and women’s soccer in the United States. And while we are proud of what we do, we also know that we can do so much more.
With the World Cup on the horizon and the sixth season of the National Women’s Soccer League about to commence, we are planning to do exactly that. Firstly, thank you to everyone who took the time to fill out our reader survey. Your feedback has been immensely insightful, and if there is one thing you should know, it is that we are listening. You should have received an email this morning with a special thank you.
You are happy that The Equalizer is here for news and analysis that you can’t get anywhere else, but you still want more. We do, too.
You crave more insight into the lives of players – whether international superstars or those just trying to make a roster. We want that, too.
You want more critical analysis of the game that you love. We are here for that.
The Equalizer is planning to be bigger and better than ever in 2018, with eyes on setting the bar for women’s soccer coverage in the U.S. ahead of the 2019 World Cup.
That is also where you come in. We will increase both the quantity and the quality of what we do, producing more compelling stories and incorporating even more voices.
We also recognize that women’s soccer still lacks a true community online. We plan to build a community – not just online, but one which can operate in the real world by meeting up at events and sharing experiences together.
Obviously, these things come at a cost. For nearly a decade, we’ve had an incredible group of contributors who have kept this site moving forward for little to nothing in return financially. Just like the league we cover the most (NWSL), women’s soccer journalism lacks investment. So we are a professionally-run operation, and everyone at the core of this site makes a living doing something else. That is the reality of media in 2018 – and certainly women’s soccer media.
Implementing new content initiatives requires funding. Additionally, we aim to host unique events and have our writers at more of the most important events to give you the type of coverage you crave – the insider access and insight.
This also comes at a time when media models are shifting drastically. Advertising dollars are drying up, and for women’s soccer, they still don’t exist at any scale. Publications large and small – from The New York Times, to niche – have shifted to reader-supported models for a more sustainable future. We see this as the path forward for The Equalizer and, in turn, quality coverage of women’s soccer.
Signing up for The Equalizer Extra will provide access to premium content — including podcasts, interviews and in-depth analysis — for $5.50 per month or $59 annually. We understand that you value every dollar, and we believe this is both a fair value of the work we do and what will put us on a path toward growth.
Let’s invest in women’s soccer – together.
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