Secret Deodorant Donates Over $500,000 to U.S. Women’s Soccer Team

Julie Ertz, Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan. Members of the United States women's soccer team, winners of a fourth Women's World Cup, celebrate and pose with the trophy by their plane after arriving at Newark Liberty International Airport, in Newark, N.J. Julie Ertz holds the trophy, Megan Rapinoe, front right, gestures, and Alex Morgan, back left, also gesturesWWCup US Returns Home, Newark, USA - 08 Jul 2019 — Julie Ertz, Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan. Members of the United States women's soccer team, winners of a fourth Women's World Cup, celebrate and pose with the trophy. Kathy Willens/AP/Shutterstock

Secret Deodorant is joining the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team’s fight for equal pay.

The Procter & Gamble Co.-owned brand, which is a sponsor of the women’s team, announced in a full-page advertisement in Sunday’s New York Times that it is donating $23,000 for each of the 23 players on the women’s team, totaling $529,000. This marks the first time a sponsor has outwardly called attention to the pay gap the women’s team is facing.

We’re taking action to help close the @USWNT gender pay gap by giving $529K ($23k x 23 players) to the @USWNTPlayers. #WeSeeEqual #EqualPay #PayThem #USWNT #USWNTPA #DontSweatFairPay #ASNS pic.twitter.com/g9Mf5zOtgb

— Secret Deodorant (@SecretDeodorant) July 14, 2019

The advertisement calls on the U.S. Soccer Federation to answer the calls for equal pay that the women’s soccer team has been increasingly vocal about through their victory at the World Cup earlier this month. “Equality is about more than pay and players,” the advertisement reads. “It’s about values. Let’s take this moment of celebration to propel women’s sports forward. We urge the U.S. Soccer Federation to be a beacon of strength and end gender pay inequality once and for all, for all players.”

Full page ad from @SecretDeodorant in today’s NY Times (main section) announcing their donation and support of #EqualPay for #USWNT/@USWNTPlayers. pic.twitter.com/pF6hW2Gh36

— Meg Linehan (@itsmeglinehan) July 14, 2019

Many athletes from the women’s team and other famous figures have taken to Twitter to praise Secret for their donation, including Katie Couric and players Alex Morgan, Allie Long and Jessica McDonald.

Proud to be aligned with a company that supports equality for all. 👏@ProcterGamble @SecretDeodorant #EqualPay https://t.co/wHlLblz5HR

— Katie Couric (@katiecouric) July 15, 2019

A lot of brands talk but Secret walks the walk. Thank you for this ⬇️, and for being such a great partner. https://t.co/Ys9NgxXoRh

— Alex Morgan (@alexmorgan13) July 15, 2019