Review: LFG Is A Frustrating, But Inspiring Look Into The USWNT’s Fight For Equal Pay

LFG, Let’s F***king Go, has been the mantra of the U.S. Women’s National soccer team, and many others, around the globe these past few years. Whether it’s spread in capital letters across apparel, screamed in locker rooms before a big game, or said in the mirror ahead of an interview, those three words have become a source of empowerment. It’s only fitting then that the words were chosen as the title for the upcoming HBO Max documentary LFG, which follows the equal pay fight between the United States Soccer Federation and the United States Women’s National Team.

Directed by Academy Award winners Andrea Nix Fine and Sean Fine, the pair take viewers on a deep dive into the fight the USWNT has been struggling with essentially forever. This fight for equal pay is not new and one the team has been actively working towards since they first captured the country’s attention when they won the World Cup in 1999.

Intermixed with interviews from some of the top USWNT team members, Megan Rapinoe, Jessica McDonald, Becky Sauerbrunn, Kelley O’Hara, Christen Press, and Samantha Mewis, as well as the team’s legal team, the documentary lays out the facts of the gender discriminations lawsuit. Team Fine is able to find a comfortable balance between the emotions of the players and educating viewers on the legal jargon and pay disparities happening between the U.S. Men’s National soccer team and the Women’s.

The documentary breaks down the timeline of the lawsuit into key moments not only on the field, but off the field, as well. When the legal arguments from the U.S. Federation were released in March of 2020, the directors dismantled the statement while also discussing with the athletes, who mind you were in the middle of their annual She Believes Cup, their feelings on the lawsuit. These are very real moments that will resonate with anyone who has constantly been shot down time and time again based solely on their gender and the team they represent. The directors’ brilliant looks at the difficulties these athletes are facing, while also showcasing the true strength they had to keep fighting not just for themselves but future generations to come, will resonate with so many viewers.

The most frustrating, and yet the most beneficial aspect of this documentary is the reminder that, once again, if this is happening to some of the best athletes in the world, it is happening everywhere. This documentary puts forth the question, how successful do women have to be in order to finally end the conversation on equal pay? If winning four FIFA Women’s World Cups, four Olympic gold medals, and a multitude of other accolades, while being global superstars is not enough, what will be? It’s frustrating they must continue to prove their worth, but it’s also empowering because these slights have become motivation for the players to continue the fight.

Grade: A