They came from Cape Cod and Kansas City, even as far away as California. These were the little girls — and boys — that came to Lower Manhattan to catch a glimpse at the United States women’s national soccer team. For the second time in four years, the team was honored with a ticker-tape parade down the Canyon of Heroes on Wednesday after winning the Women’s World Cup, this time in France on Sunday. It wasn’t just young girls cherishing their success this year, it was an entire generation of soccer players and sports fans. One of the more lasting effects of this team may be its appeal across gender lines, seemingly obliterating whatever remained of the anachronistic tendency of boys and men to resist rooting for women’s teams.

Source: New York Times July 10, 2019 21:56 UTC