RALEIGH, N.C. — As the Women’s World Cup unfolded this summer in France, the game’s best player was a spectator by choice.
Ada Hegerberg, a Norwegian forward with an astonishing scoring rate, attended the opener in Paris and the final in Lyon, the charming city she has called home as a pro player since 2014. Norway had qualified for the tournament, but in a stance borne two years ago over gender-equality issues, she did not participate in the soccer spectacle.
The U.S. team took its grievances to court, both federal and public opinion.