Soccer star Brandi Chastain: 'Invest in women and see the return that you get'

Former USWNT Player Brandi Chastain joined Yahoo Finance to discuss the gender wage gap in sports, the outlook for the olympics and her choice to join forces with Save the World products.

Video transcript

SEANA SMITH: Well, let's switch gears here and talk about sports, because the Tokyo Olympics are set to get underway in just a few months. And of course, this comes after they were postponed due to the pandemic. So we want to talk about that, plus the gender pay gap and a new partnership with Save the World, a company that produces environmentally-friendly products.

For that, we want to bring in Brandi Chastain. She was a member of the US Women's National Soccer team and is now an investor in Save the World. Brandi, thanks so much for joining us. We're very excited to have you here on Yahoo Finance. Lots to talk to you about today.

But let's first start with the Tokyo Olympics, because they are only three months away. International fans, as we understand, are not going to be permitted, because of the pandemic. Just give us some insight into how some of these athletes may be viewing these games, given the fact that there's still so much uncertainty surrounding it.

BRANDI CHASTAIN: Well, I think as the athletes go, our responsibility is to prepare as best as we can, to be ready once the games begin. We have to rely heavily on those people like Dr. Aktar who are helping us to judge and examine the environments that we are in. And how can we mitigate situations the best as possible?

I'm sure the IOC is doing everything under their control, or within their control, to make sure that it is safe. I think not having the fans will influence the feel of the Olympic games, but not the competition.

ADAM SHAPIRO: When we talk about amateur athletes and Olympians, they're not doing it for the money. They're doing it for the love of the sport. But eventually, you've got to make a living. And the pay disparity between male and female athletes is something-- we've talked about it repeatedly on this program. We talked about it at my last job at another financial news network. At what point do women athletes just say, enough is enough-- along with men-- and make a change here. I mean, that LeBron James Sue Bird meme, if you've seen it, is remarkable, pointing out how outrageous this is.

BRANDI CHASTAIN: No, this is an exhausted-- and I'm exhausted talking about it, because this is not a new topic. We've been talking about this with the women's national team since 1999. That's over 20-plus years ago.

And so I believe the climate-- the climate is right, having advocates such as LeBron James, having incredible examples such as Sue Bird. The players on the US Women's National Team speak to why there is a necessity, and really, the need for everybody just to wake up in this moment and recognize that this should be an equal platform.

SEANA SMITH: Brandi, you mentioned that you're exhausted talking about. I know you've talked about it extensively over the past 20-plus years. But I'm curious just to get your perspective on why you think this continues to persist, because we've talked about it so often. We've talked about ways to address it, how to do it. Yet, here we are and nothing has really changed.

BRANDI CHASTAIN: I think it's fear. I think fear, number one. Letting go of control, number two. Getting into the unknown, I think, is-- you know, change is hard for a lot of people.

I love change. I think change is probably what gives life its vitality and the fun. Because you know, like soccer for me, I love the game because it's never going to be played the same twice. And even within the game, there will be need for agility and flexibility. And there will be some disappointment, but then there'll be some discovery.

And so I think when you're in charge, it's really hard to relinquish that. Our belief is that if you open up to this concept, what you're going to get is going to be two-fold, 10-fold. You're talking about finances. Let's invest in women and see the return that you can get. It won't let you-- we will not let you down.

ADAM SHAPIRO: I want to talk to you about Save the World products, as well as that iconic image of you in an NFT. But very quickly, what should we, as the people who buy tickets, what can we do to put an end to this issue we've been talking about? Should we stop buying an NBA ticket until the teams come out and insist on equity in pay?

BRANDI CHASTAIN: I don't necessarily know if that's the solution. I think if you're a decision-maker, make a decision that's based upon an even playing ground. Don't just choose something because it looks one way. I think be open to making decisions that maybe go against the trend. Maybe find ways that you can elevate women in your corporation.

So it's not just about saying no to this. It's really, we don't want that. We want both of these things to thrive, because there's true value in both of them. All we're saying is that there is a reasonable reason to invest in women-- women's sports, when in the business sector. We all have a part in that, whether we think so or not.

SEANA SMITH: Brandi, speaking of inequity-- I'm not sure if you saw this. I'm sure you did. But with the March Madness just around-- what was it, a month ago now? It just all started. But the women's weight room, what we were shown on social media-- it got a lot of attention; we're showing it right now on the screen-- versus the men's weight room. And yes, the NCAA did address it. But it took a lot of attention in order for them to do something, to offer the women something that was more comparable to what the men were given. What was your reaction to that? And just in terms of, I guess, the example that sets, that the NCAA is doing something like this?

BRANDI CHASTAIN: Well, number one, shout out to the player who called attention to it. That takes courage, and that's a risk that I think we have to be willing to take. Number two, I would give a shout out to Rebecca Lobo, who on the morning show for ESPN said this has been going on for a long time. This is not one guffaw by the NCAA, and don't pretend that it is.

This has been happening for a long time. Title IX has been enacted since 1972. And compliance to Title IX took-- and is taking still-- a long time to to really be in existence. So this is not something that we say, oh, we'll do better. No, you do better. And if you don't, then we have to find people who do.

And so you know, Mr. Emmert is really under the gun, in my opinion. And I feel that it should be examined in a way that is not just good for one side of sports, it's good for all.

ADAM SHAPIRO: Another way to do better is the products you buy and their impact on the environment. You're an investor and also a spokesperson for Save the World products. I mean, I'll shame myself here, if you go under our kitchen sink, it's better living through chemistry. So tell us about these products, and where can we get them?

BRANDI CHASTAIN: Well, number one, you can go to savetheworldllc.com. You can find all about the personal ozone spray bottle that you're seeing there on the split screen. You can see that there's a commercial-grade size that is also available.

What we're saying is there's alternatives that are not harmful that have been proven for 100 years. Aqueous ozone has been used as a deodorizer, a cleanser, a destroyer of host germs for 100 years. And all it takes is water. It's air, electricity, water all coming together through this bottle that now create an opportunity to cleanse surfaces, as you're seeing.

But you can take it anywhere. I'm a mom. I'm a coach. I work with a startup in the hospitality space, City Cheers. We go into restaurants and bars. And really, for all of us-- and to Dr. Akthar's point, what can we as individuals do to make spaces, places better for all?

And for me, when I saw the Save the World and my friend Marci Weiss came to me and said, hey, I'd like you to get involved, it made perfect sense to me. I want to do my part. And joining Save the World has really been, I think, a way that I can endeavor into something that really goes across a lot of different platforms.

SEANA SMITH: And Brandi, we certainly know what attracted you to this brand after that answer. But when you are making these partnerships, or if you are investing in various companies, I'm curious just what your criteria is and how you're identifying attractive opportunities.

BRANDI CHASTAIN: Well, I have to be honest and indict myself here and say I didn't grow up financially literate, and I'm learning as things go along. And as we are talking about, I think that's due to the pay equity gap. I didn't have lots of luxury in my life growing up, or even as I was becoming a professional in sports. I was living the $5 per diem to the $5 per diem.

And so I'm learning a lot of things. And one part, obviously, is things that bring me joy. But then I think there's things that really influence the greater good, right? How can I endeavor into environments that make a difference, whether that's professional sports in the NWSL and bringing a team back to the Bay Area, whether that's in the hospitality and restaurant space with City Cheers, whether that's with Save the World LLC in your home with your kids, in the sports environment.

For me, doing due diligence, asking a lot of questions, relying on people that have been trustworthy in the past, not just going with trends because they're trendy. And that takes some-- some work. And I've been very hesitant in my career, but I feel now is the time that I can get in line with a lot of good companies that want to do good work.

ADAM SHAPIRO: Could you get in on the-- it's you in the photo. The iconic-- I don't know if we have it that we can show it, but that image of you with the fist and victory.

BRANDI CHASTAIN: That one right there behind me?

ADAM SHAPIRO: Yeah. What about turning that into an NFT? I mean, the world is going crazy for crypto art currency. What about that?

BRANDI CHASTAIN: How-- how do you make it happen? Somebody give me a call. We'll talk about it.

ADAM SHAPIRO: I'm sure there's a way to do it. This might be a good project for us. I'm going to mention it to our social team, and maybe we can make this happen and see what kind of auction we get, an NFT of the Brandi Chastain photo. Because we'll just pull up. Digital I think we'd have the license.

SEANA SMITH: Sounds good to me. It certainly is one of the most-- yeah, one of the most well-known photos in sports of all time. Brandi Chastain, great to have you. Thanks so much for taking the time to join us here on Yahoo Finance. We hope to have you back again in the future.