US Soccer and the United States Women's National Team (USWNT) have reached an agreement to end the dispute over equal pay, according to a joint statement released on Tuesday.
The controversy dates back to March 2019 when the USWNT filed a gender discrimination lawsuit against US Soccer.
With this agreement, the women's and men's national teams will get equal pay in all friendly and tournaments, including the World Cup.
Tuesday's joint statement said, "We are pleased to announce that, based on the negotiations of a new collective bargaining agreement, we will resolve our long-standing dispute over equal pay and Will stand together in a shared commitment to advance equality."
As part of the agreement, US Soccer will pay $22 million to players in the case as well as an additional account to benefit USWNT players in their later career goals and charitable efforts related to women's and girls' soccer. Will pay $2 million. ,
The agreement is dependent on the ratification of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for the USWNT.
"It has not been easy to reach today," the statement said. "Players on the US women's national team have achieved unprecedented success while working to achieve equal pay for themselves and future athletes.
“Today, we recognize the legacy of past USWNT leaders who helped make this day possible, as well as all the women and girls who will come forward. Together, we dedicate this moment to them.
"We look forward to continuing to work together to develop women's football and advance opportunities for young girls and women in the United States and around the world."
'Nyay' and turning the page
Two-time World Cup winners Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan - along with US Soccer president Cindy Parlow Coen - reflected on the historic agreement on CBS Mornings.
"It's a little surreal to be honest," Rapinoe said. “We have been in this for a long time and coming from a long history of women who have fought to make the sport a better place.
"What I've been waiting for and I'm really proud of is that justice comes in the next generation that we've never known - it's equal pay across the board from here on out.
"I look forward to continuing to advance the sport and this is a moment we look at the signs of a new US Soccer that we can all be very proud of."
Rapinoe said the long-term impact of the deal could lead to even greater success for the national team.
"The biggest legacy we can take from this generation is that the players who come forward will just have better ability to play," Rapinoe said.
"At the same time they're probably getting better, that's the goal."
Morgan said a big aspect of the deal was moving toward "improving" the team's relationship with US Soccer.
"It's a huge step forward, and improving that relationship with US soccer is also a big part of that," Morgan said.
“We feel very comfortable and happy and proud with the moment that we have just had it because it is a huge victory for us, for the women’s sport, for women in general – and it is a moment that we look forward to.” Everyone can celebrate now."
Later, on ABC's Good Morning America, Cone, the 1999 World Cup winner as a USWNT midfielder, echoed Morgan's evaluations.
"I think it's a big win for everyone involved, but right now we're focused on moving the game forward, so it's a really great transition moment," she said. "We still have a lot of work to do to improve the relationship with our players but we are on that path but looking forward.
“They are not only the best players in the world, they are great ambassadors for our sport and so we can now work hand in hand together to develop the sport at home and abroad and raise the level of the women’s game in the world. Throughout, I think that's really special and I'm really looking forward to turning the page on it and working closely with our women's team."
How do we get here?
Tuesday's settlement marks a resolution dating back and forth to March 2019, when the USWNT filed a gender discrimination lawsuit against US Soccer.
With 28 players on the team listed as plaintiffs, the USWNT's claim that they were paid less than the men's national team was dismissed in May 2020 by federal judge Gary Klausner, who ruled that the women's side played more matches and earned more money than his man. equivalent.
Following the decision, two-time World Cup-winning USWNT players Kristen Press and Tobin Heath told CNN of their desire to continue the fight for equal pay, with Heath calling the stakes "anyone who has ever won in football." bigger than a thing".
In July 2021, the USWNT filed an appeal against the May 2020 decision, saying the decision "defies reality" and was "legally incorrect".
US Soccer tweeted a statement in response to the team's appeal, noting that the decision "correctly considered that the women's national team was awarded a higher total than the men's national team on a cumulative and average per-game basis." was paid."
In September 2021, US Soccer's proposal for equal contracts for the men's and women's national teams was labeled a "PR stunt" by the United States Women's National Team Players Association (USWNTPA).
The USWNTPA, which serves as an association for the players, said in a tweet, "USSF's PR stunts and bargaining through the media will not bring us any closer to a fair settlement."
"On the contrary, we are committed to bargaining in good faith to receive equal pay and the safest working conditions. Neither does what the USSF has recently offered to us."
The federation responded quickly to the USWNTPA's social media post, tweeting, "An offer on paper of similar contracts of the USWNT and USMNT, and to discuss the equivalence of prize money, is genuine, authentic and in good faith. A publicity." Stunt is a 90-minute one-sided film."