Hope Solo is a World Cup Champion, 2-time Olympic gold medalist, a rockstar goal-keeper for the National Women's Soccer league since the year 2000, and has just recently been fired.

There has been account after account of athletes bad-mouthing opposing players or referees, and even getting in trouble with the law. It doesn't matter the skill level of the athlete, there are always punishments involved to reprimand behavior. Such situations always graze headlines, but soon fade off as soon as the next team victory takes place. The athlete may receive a 2 or 3 game suspension, but anything more would just upset fans. So, typically, they'd be back in the game before we all know it.

Same treatment for female athletes? Should be.

Sure, after mouthing off the Swedish women's soccer team in the 2016 Rio Olympics, Hope Solo should be temporarily reprimanded for simply a moment of poor sportsmanship. However, the USWNT decided to take it a dozen steps further, smacking not only a 6-month suspension, but also terminating her USWNT contract, effective immediately.

What is that.

The initial suspension was a direct result of Solo's outburst after the Olympic game, but that in no way could justify the contract termination of a woman who has made the National Team proud for nearly two decades. It seems as if the NSWL was just looking for a reason to fire Solo since the start of her fight for equal pay for female athletes.

At this point, we are not solely facing an issue of sportsmanship, but a sexist issue of double standards in the professional athletic community.

When will this ever change?

See here for a video illustration on the matter.