USWNT players endorse Cindy Parlow Cone for U.S. Soccer president

On the eve of the election for U.S. Soccer president, 32 players on the United States women's national team have endorsed incumbent Cindy Parlow Cone.

The players, who range from World Cup veterans including Megan Rapinoe and Becky Sauerbrunn to newer players like Trinity Rodman and Ashley Sanchez, said Cone «deeply understands the work that needs to be done to continue to create equality.»

«The U.S. Soccer Federation needs a leader who will move our sport forward, not backward. That is why we are endorsing Cindy Parlow Cone for President,» the players wrote Friday. «We respect Cindy's integrity, her passion for the game as a former player and a coach, her pragmatic approach as a business leader, and commitment to its players at all levels from our national teams to the grassroots level.»

The election will be held on March 5, at U.S. Soccer's annual general meeting in Atlanta. Only U.S. Soccer constituents are eligible to vote in the election, and the USWNT players are represented by the 23-player Athletes Council. Alex Morgan, Ali Krieger, Sauerbrunn and Lynn Williams, who all signed the letter, sit on the Athletes Council.

Cone is running against Carlos Cordeiro, the former president of U.S. Soccer who resigned in March 2020. Cordeiro faced backlash from sponsors and other stakeholders who accused the federation of sexism for its disparaging language used in legal filings during the USWNT's equal pay lawsuit.

The players in their endorsement did not address Cordeiro, but Rapinoe had made it clear earlier this week where her support was, telling reporters Cordeiro "was certainly not getting my vote, that's for sure." The players and U.S. Soccer settled their equal pay lawsuit, which they announced on Feb. 22, in joint