Ex-England ace Rafferty proud to be a pioneer

LONDON - Former England fullback Claire Rafferty thinks women's soccer has finally cemented its place as a leading global sport.

The 30-year-old - a member of the England side that lost to Japan through a stoppage-time own goal in the 2015 World Cup semifinals - is proud that "the struggle" she and her contemporaries went through has laid the foundation for the present generation to benefit.

Rafferty's story reflects all of that, having come back from three cruciate ligament injuries, juggled a job at an investment banking company with making it to training on time, and turning down a professional contract offer of just$21,000 a year.