Six years of conflict. A three-year litigation. It was a long and hard fight. A $24 Million payout.
On Tuesday, February 22, the U.S. women’s soccer team reached a $24 million settlement with the United States Soccer Federation, following a 2019 lawsuit over equal pay in which players alleged “institutional gender discrimination.” In addition, U.S. Soccer promised equal pay for men’s and women’s teams, including at the World Cup, The New York Times reported. That’s right. The soccer federation will no longer discriminate on the basis of gender in its pay.
What about that old claim, that women athletes just can’t be paid as much as men—that men are better, more popular? According to reports from BuzzFeed News in 2020, lawyers for U.S. soccer filed court documents during the suit that claimed “indisputable science” proves that the men’s team “requires a higher level of skill” than the women’s team.
The U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT), players can’t hear these complaints over the sounds from their bank accounts filling up. $22 million will be shared by the 61 players who are part of the lawsuit. The women will receive an additional $2 million to put into a savings account, which they can use to finance projects after their retirement.
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U.S. female players have responded with joy so far. “I think we’re gonna look backOn this day and say this is the moment that U.S. soccer changed for the better,” Megan Rapinoe said on Good Morning AmericaSoon after the agreement was announced, he tweeted: “Today is a great day and the work will always continue!” tweeted Ali Krieger. “To those of us fighting tirelessly within our workplace for equity, equality and respect, thank u! I’m proud to be a part of this powerful group!”
Source: Glamour