The Women’s Hockey World Championship begins on March 31 in Plymouth, Michigan. The USA Women’s Hockey Team’s 23 players threatened to boycott the championship, due to the various fair pay issues that have been plaguing the sport for years. The USA Women’s Team, who have won gold in six of the last eight World Championships, have made do without much, much less than their male counterparts, all while performing the same job. They feel that USA Hockey has a responsibility to grow the game of hockey, not just for men, but for women.

The women are asking for a living wage and for USA Hockey to fully support its programs for women, and stop treating them like an afterthought. “We have represented our country with dignity and deserve to be treated with fairness and respect as the boys hockey team.” They want to be seen and treated as equals, which USA Hockey clearly doesn’t do. If the women’s team has to strike to teach them that lesson, more power to them.

Representatives for the women have not publicly stated the dollar figure they’re seeking as part of an agreement with USA Hockey, something the players have sought for nearly a year and a half. “It’s historic. It is absolutely historic,” U.S. captain Meghan Duggan said. “I think it shows girls and women within sport or without sport: Do more, be more, be better and put pressure on people. Stand up for yourself and what you believe in. I think that’s really important, and, if we can be role models in that aspect, I’m certainly proud to do so.”