A Kinesiology PhD alumna published an editorial in the Philadelphia Inquirer last week on pay equality for all women professional athletes. The editorial was sparked by the call for closing the pay gap between women and men women soccer players after the US Women’s National Team team won the Women’s World Cup for the fourth time.

Caroline Heffernan, currently assistant professor of instruction at Temple University in Philadelphia, argued that while the women’s soccer team should certainly receive equal compensation, disparities in pay and working conditions for women and men exist across all professional sports, and is a larger issue that needs to be addressed.

Heffernan graduated from the School with her PhD in Kinesiology in 2018. She was advised by Lisa Kihl, PhD, in the Sport Management emphasis and currently conducts research on how allyship’s application in sport organizations can increase the number of women in positions of leadership.