Maggie Mertens

The Women Naming Their Babies After Themselves

Female “Juniors” are rare. But for certain mothers, passing down their name is a no brainer.

• Maggie Mertens
• April 29, 2022

What You Find When You Leave Your Job

The “Great Resignation” isn’t really about rejecting work—it’s about redefining one’s sense of self.

• Maggie Mertens
• February 26, 2022

The Year of Practical Thinking

After so much uncertainty and loss, many Americans are abandoning the unbridled optimism of a new year and adopting a more pragmatic outlook.

• Maggie Mertens
• January 15, 2022

The Most Famous Low-Wage Workers in the Country

Players in the National Women’s Soccer League are speaking up about the abusive work environments that can develop when women are underpaid.

• Maggie Mertens
• October 19, 2021

This Summer Was Destined for Failure

It’s not just Delta whiplash that’s getting people down. Even when the pandemic ends, post-vaccine life is going to be awkward.

• Maggie Mertens
• August 16, 2021

The Title IX Loophole That Hurts NCAA Women’s Teams

A little-known Supreme Court ruling makes it legal for the league to promote its men’s and women’s teams unequally.

• Maggie Mertens
• April 1, 2021

The Sports League That Refuses to Court Certain Fans

The National Women’s Hockey League distanced itself from a Barstool Sports endorsement, sparking a firestorm about how teams should build their audiences.

• Maggie Mertens
• February 27, 2021

This Woman Surfed the Biggest Wave of the Year

Here’s why you probably haven’t heard about it.

• Maggie Mertens
• September 12, 2020

Maternity Leave—Not Higher Pay—Is the WNBA’s Real Win

A new policy could transform the way professional female athletes experience pregnancy in their respective sports.

• Maggie Mertens
• February 1, 2020

What the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team Needs More Than Equal Pay

The argument that the female champions can draw big crowds only during World Cup years doesn’t consider the lacking investment from their governing body.

• Maggie Mertens
• August 3, 2019

The U.S. Women’s Soccer Team’s Biggest Battle Is Yet to Be Won

Some 1 billion people tuned in to the games this year, making the USWNT’s victory even more crucial in their upcoming legal fight for equal pay.

• Maggie Mertens
• July 7, 2019

The U.S. Women’s Soccer Team Is in the Finals. Here’s Why It Matters.

It’s not just about the game—these athletes are playing with something more to prove.

• Maggie Mertens
• July 2, 2019

The U.S. National Women’s Soccer Team Makes a Really Good Case for Equal Pay

In a new lawsuit against the U.S. Soccer Federation, the athletes say they earn just a fraction of what their less successful male counterparts make.

• Maggie Mertens
• March 19, 2019

Women's Soccer Is a Feminist Issue

Female athletes have historically received very little attention from activists and advocates for gender equality. Why?

• Maggie Mertens
• June 5, 2015