USWNT

Collegiate soccer programs began to truly emerge sometime in the 1980s. For women, the passage of Title IX opened up opportunities for female athletes that were only available to men playing football (the oblong type) and basketball. Men’s soccer programs have been around significantly longer (the first NCAA championship was played in 1959), but consistently take a backseat to padded football and madness of basketball.

Very soon, Carli Lloyd wil be able to add the title "published author" to her already impressive list of accolades.

Lloyd signed a book deal with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for her memoir, set to be released later in 2016.

The book is expected to cover Lloyd's soccer career, including the time she almost quit the sport entirely.

The USWNT's biggest competition so far in their victory tour has come from their own bus. Yesterday, Hope Solo tweeted a picture of her and her teammates being escorted to practice by fans in Chattanooga. 

What happens when the bus breaks down? Awesome fans escort you to training! Thanks #Chattanooga! #USWNT pic.twitter.com/EThBMAEsBW

U.S. Soccer announced Monday that midfielder Lori Chalupny will retire at the end of the USWNT's 10-game World Cup Victory Tour.

Carli Lloyd's pitch was high and wide, but that is a trifling complaint. At least she did better than poor Gio dos Santos. Lloyd threw out the first pitch for the Seattle Mariners while she and her Houston Dash teammates were in town for a game against the Seattle Reign (which the Reign won, 2-1). 

It is hard to call any team a headliner in a victory tour when the team going on that tour in the United States Women’s National team. The Americans are always going to be the stars, but with the additions of two games against Brazil on the docket for October 21st and 25th, their victory tour has secured one of the best teams in the world. 

Following the USWNT's World Cup win last month, coach Jill Ellis has been handed a new contract, which is expected to last through the 2019 World Cup and possibly beyond.

Ellis's former contract could have kept her at the helm of the USWNT for up to five more years, but instead she and US Soccer voided that one and hammered out a new contract.

Mandatory musical accompaniment to this article.

Megan Rapinoe is obviously not afraid to try something new. 

The USWNT midfielder and World Cup winner was invited to fly with the Navy's Blue Angels. Judging from her expression, she was a little nervous.

The congratulations keep coming in for the USWNT as they continue to celebrate their World Cup victory.

One particular video caught the eye of the ladies when New England Patriots Rob Gronkowski decided to drop this:

Long after the stadium lights have dimmed, the interviews have ended and the traveling has stopped, the battle for equal pay continues for female soccer players.

Even though the USWNT just won the Women's World Cup, the team will only receive $2 million, compared to $35 million for the German men’s team last year. Individually, the USWNT players will each get about $300,000, which is roughly comparable to what the Germans got.