World Cup money? Even though the men received multiple times more, even though, as the women often noted, the women won championships while the men struggled to get past the first round, the men received multiple times more.
Different pay structures had the disadvantage of resulting in different payments. The men almost always ended up with more.
What has changed?
The new contracts announced this week will end the women’s guaranteed-salary system and put both senior teams on the pay-for-play model.
The decision to pursue guaranteed salaries had always been a strategic calculation by the women: While the men traditionally earn the bulk of their income from their club salaries, the nascent women’s professional game — far behind in its development — offered much lower salaries, even to its stars. Guaranteed incomes from U.S. Soccer, then, offered the security of a consistent wage, and ensured that a female player who got injured, or pregnant, wouldn’t lose her house or her car.
Some women are concerned about switching to the pay-for play model. A player who loses favor and is not on the U.S. soccer payroll could be forced out of the sport with no consistent income beyond her club salary. But for the top players — who now earn bigger salaries from their club teams — the prospect of higher match payments, shared World Cup payouts with the men and revenue-sharing splits with U.S. Soccer was clearly worth it.
What kind of money is this?
The new deals will be in effect until 2028. Both men and women will each receive $8,000 for being called into a camp to play the most games. A $10,000 bonus will be given for each game they win. Women will see a doubling in match fees for more then a dozen games each year.
What’s the bottom line? Projections shown to the women’s team, and shared with The New York Times, estimated annual payments from U.S. Soccer of as much as $450,000 a year, and potentially double that — or more — after a good World Cup cycle. Those figures should be similar for top men’s players.
Source: NY Times