HARRISON, N.J. — Outside the gates of Red Bull Arena, in the fan zone swarming with people enjoying the unseasonably warm afternoon sun in Harrison, New Jersey, posters were being handed out to celebrate International Women’s Day, which just so happened to fall on this SheBelieves Cup game day. Illustrated by Kimothy Joy and featuring the players on the U.S. national team roster, the poster’s text simply read, “SheBelieves in being unapologetically great.”



The signs were easy to spot in the stands, held aloft by young girls in kits and newly-purchased USWNT winter hats, especially after midfielder Julie Ertz emphatically headed home the winning goal over Spain in the 87th minute.



As lovely as the poster looked and as satisfying as the win was for the U.S. national team and their fans, the empowering message of SheBelieves Cup — that reminder to be unapologetically great — stood in stark contrast to the players’...