Help responding to post in 150 or more words. Given details.

The US Womens National Team lacks diversity with the nearly the entire team being Caucasian. This is an observation that is not only made in the United States, but also on an international level. The French have criticized the US for the lack of diversity on the team (Montgomery, 2019). The French Press has pointed out how white the team is when comparing it to the US mens team and other womens teams globally. While the USWNT has had a more diverse roster in recent years, that same diversity is not reflected in those purchasing tickets and supporting the team with most of the fan base being Caucasian.

The first African American player to play on the USWNT was Kim Crabbe. She played on the USWNT from 1985 until 1988. While she didnt make the 1991 World Cup roster, Crabbe has paved the way for 17 players of color who have made an Olympic or World Cup roster, as well as any woman who has ever received a call-up to the U.S. national team (Ayala, 2019). The USWNT is a team, but we know it is also a business. In any organization, strategic initiatives are needed to succeed in the global economy, diversity must be recognized and nurtured as the organizations greatest asset, and the ability to attract and work with diverse talent must be seen as a critical competitive advantage (Luthans, 2015).

There seem to be several issues that point to the lack of diversity we see within womens soccer as a whole. One being, the cost to pay-to-play soccer in the US prices out lower-class families, many of those of an ethnic minority (Ruszkai, 2019). Soccer, in general, is an expensive sport when played at a club level. When you think of the era we live in and the focus on diversity with gender, race, and even education (or training in this case) you are not going to find different cultures or races represented in US womens soccer league or on the USWNT. It does not seem to be anything that is in the control of the players themselves, but they do recognize it and are speaking out about it. They are hoping to invest types of grassroots programs that can actually provide opportunities to make it fair for everyone, giving everyone the opportunity to play (Ayala, 2019).

In an interview with Christen Press, she states it has not always been easy to talk about race and racism, as a part of the conversations about equality. She goes on to state its probably the part of equality that we dont talk about enough (Ayala, 2019). There has been a lot of attention on this team for gender equality, but there is no prospect for gender equality without the future of racial equality (Ayala, 2019). Asking for more money and travel from aspiring young women soccer players is not going to change the culture of exclusivity. Opportunities to progress in the sport are not offered in lower-income communities. The governing body of the womens soccer sport in the US, is the "main culprit and has accused those within the organization of chasing profit over inclusivity (Ruszkai, 2019).

Praise is offered to homosexual star Megan Rapinoe for her statement that you cannot win without the gays on your team (Montgomery, 2019). The head of the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) diversity initiatives recently noted, Organizational diversity initiatives should not simply focus on getting people of color and women in the door, but embracing an inclusive culture to maintain these employees (Luthans, 2015). These differences, along with cultural inclusion, is important in any organization whether that is the US womens soccer team or in womens soccer in general from little league clubs to the national stage.

The French Press article also speaks to the irony of a team fighting for equal pay and fairness among its sport when it is not diverse in its making (Ruszkai, 2019). France, like the U.S., is a country rich with immigrants from diverse backgrounds. Unlike the U.S., that diversity shines through in their women's team thanks to support from the likes of French coaching legend Aime Jacquet (Ruszkai, 2019). Diversity is seen as a positive in a country and even a team. It has been said that multiculturalism could be the reason why France won the 2018 men's World Cup (Ruszkai, 2019).

In order to change this culture a mentor program could be a way to build trust and bring in women of color and of other cultures. In recent years, many organizations have begun assigning mentors to women and minorities. The purpose of the mentor program is to help support members of a diverse group in their jobs, socialize them in the cultural values of the organization, and pragmatically help their chances for development and advancement (Luthans, 2015). As with any mentoring program, it is important to identify the targeted population. Encouraging minority participation in womens soccer requires both strong mentors and acquiring funding sources. These offerings will encourage kids from low income families and afford opportunities for participation.