By Joe Lago

The Sports Illustrated reporter who tweeted that women’s sports are “not worth watching” might have a challenge coming to him in the form of a feisty Women’s World Cup champion and tournament MVP.

In an interview with Yahoo global news anchor Katie Couric on Thursday, Carli Lloyd of the world champion United States women’s national team responded to the controversial comment by SI’s Andy Benoit during the World Cup by describing just how “empowering” women’s sports can be- even be superior to men’s sports when it comes to the soccer pitch.

“I think that what we do out on the field is oftentimes a little bit better than what men do,” said Lloyd, who won Golden Ball honors as the Women’s World Cup’s top player. “I don’t think that we flop around as much. I think we’re tough. I mean, I’ve got battle wounds on my legs from the turf and sliding. And we’re gritty. And we’re feisty. And I think that I would never back down from a guy. I’m a competitor and would always offer a challenge.”

“Maybe you could challenge Andy Benoit,” Couric said with a laugh.

“That would be good,” Lloyd replied.

It has been a whirlwind week for the USWNT since beating Japan 5-2 in Sunday’s World Cup final in Vancouver. Head coach Jill Ellis and all 23 players celebrated with American fans on home soil for the first time on Tuesday when an estimated crowd of 10,000 attended a championship rally in downtown Los Angeles. On Friday, Lloyd and her teammates will be honored with a rare ticker-tape parade in New York City down the Canyon of Heroes.

“It’s awesome. I’m taking it all in,” said Lloyd, who will rejoin her club team, the Houston Dash, this weekend and play in its National Women’s Soccer League game on Sunday. “I mean, this is just so cool. Even if I’m running on, like, zero sleep, I’m gonna continue to just power through and enjoy every single moment of this.”

Watch the complete interview here: