“Mes Que Un Club” or “More Than A Club” is Barcelona’s motto. And it is true, It’s a symbol of Spain’s soul. Ask anyone from Spain, and they’ll tell you, that you can’t escape Barca’s magnetic pull. Not even Pau Gasol. The six-time All-Star and four-time All-NBA legend started his journey in 1999 with FC Barcelona’s senior basketball team in the Spanish ACB League. Even from the hardwood, Gasol’s love for Barca’s football division has stayed front and center. Recently, as “Liga F” inked its second Collective Agreement for the First Division of Women’s Soccer, Pau took to X (formerly Twitter) to share his thoughts.
The Spanish League’s female footballers signed their first-ever labor agreement in 2020. Five years later, they’ve signed their second. Liga F president Beatriz Alvarez presented this deal alongside representatives of Futpro, Futbolistas On, and CCOO unions. This agreement promises better working conditions and support for female players. This includes maternity leave, mental health resources, scholarships, and work-life balance initiatives. These changes are promised to bring a monumental shift in women’s soccer. It will give athletes the additional support they’ve fought hard to achieve. Pau Gasol, deeply moved by this initiative took to X to congratulate the pioneers behind this achievement.
He shared his admiration on X, writing, “Celebro este gran paso para el deporte femenino y la igualdad. Mejoras como la maternidad, conciliación, salud mental, becas y emprendimiento marcan un avance imprescindible. ¡Enhorabuena a quienes lo han hecho posible! ”. To put it simply, it says, “I celebrate this great step for women’s sport and equality. Improvements such as maternity, conciliation, mental health, scholarships and entrepreneurship mark an essential advance. Congratulations to those who have made it possible!” Pau is truly a legend in every sense.
Celebro este gran paso para el deporte femenino y la igualdad. Mejoras como la maternidad, conciliación, salud mental, becas y emprendimiento marcan un avance imprescindible. ¡Enhorabuena a quienes lo han hecho posible! https://t.co/SR53nb6lUg
— Pau Gasol (@paugasol) January 28, 2025
Pau’s heartfelt message shows his unwavering respect for athletes and his belief in fairness and equality in sports. Isn’t he a true legend? Pau proves that being “More Than A Club” extends far beyond the court and the pitch. But this isn’t the first time when he has opened up about women’s rights and equality.
Pau Gasol’s letter about female coaches
Pau Gasol, a three-time Olympic medalist, has always focused on the bigger picture, respecting ability over outdated gender biases. In 2018, Gasol wrote an open letter on LinkedIn defending the capability of female coaches to lead men’s basketball teams. This wasn’t about whether women could coach. It was about recognizing their ability to compete and deliver results at the highest level.
Pau wrote, “I’ve been in the NBA for 17 years. I’ve won two championships … I’ve played with some of the best players of this generation … and I’ve played under two of the sharpest minds in the history of sports, in Phil Jackson and Gregg Popovich.” He didn’t stop there. Pau made it crystal clear: “And I’m telling you: Becky Hammon can coach.”
He wanted the world to know this wasn’t some casual endorsement. “I’m not saying she can coach pretty well. I’m not saying she can coach enough to get by.”. Pau’s words weren’t just about Hammon, they were about challenging the system to respect ability over gender.
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