WOMEN'S WORLD CUP 2023
US Women’s Soccer equal pay: How much did the USWNT earn in the settlement?
In February, The USWNT and US Soccer agreed to resolve the equal pay claims in litigation that had been pending since 2019.
The United States’ women’s national soccer team (USWNT) are gearing up for their first appearance at the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia in New Zealand, with Vietnam their opening opponents at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday. Nothing other than a handsome victory is expected for the Stars and Stripes, who have been tipped by most to successfully defend the trophy they lifted in France four years ago.
As is almost always the case, the USWNT are in a good place when it comes to all things on the field, although things have been rather turbulent off it in recent times, certainly up until an agreement with U.S. Soccer, soccer’s governing body in the United States, regarding equal pay in early 2022.
USWNT and U.S. Soccer’s equal pay agreement
Back in February 2022, the USWNT and U.S. Soccer, the governing body, agreed to resolve the equal pay claims in litigation that had been pending since 2019.
“We are pleased to announce that, contingent on the negotiation of a new collective bargaining agreement, we will have resolved our longstanding dispute over equal pay and proudly stand together in a shared commitment to advancing equality in soccer,” U.S. Soccer and USWNT said in a joint statement.
How much did the USWNT players receive?
The New York Times reported that under the terms of the agreement, players would receive $24 million and a pledge from U.S. Soccer to equalize pay for the men’s and women’s national teams, in all competitions including the World Cup, in the next collective bargaining agreements.
“Getting to this day has not been easy. The U.S. Women’s National Team players have achieved unprecedented success while working to achieve equal pay for themselves and future athletes,” the joint statement added.
“Today, we recognize the legacy of the past USWNT leaders who helped to make this day possible, as well as all of the women and girls who will follow.”
2019 World Cup winners had sued U.S. Soccer
The World Cup-winning team sued the governing body in 2019 seeking $66 million in damages under the Equal Pay Act, alleging gender discrimination in compensation and nearly every other aspect of playing conditions.
U.S. Soccer argued the women’s team had received more compensation than the men’s team over the last decade.
In May 2020, a United States District Court judge for the Central District of California threw out the players’ claims for equal pay but allowed their claims about playing conditions to go forward.
The players reached a settlement on the conditions part of the lawsuit and had appealed against the wage decision portion.
Equal Pay for Team USA
In December 2022, the House of Representatives passed a bill - the Equal Pay for Team USA Act - ensuring equal compensation for American women taking part in international events, which affects all athletes representing the United States in global competition.
The most successful team in Women’s World Cup history
While the USWNT are the most successful nation in the history of the Women’s World Cup, winning the tournament on four occasions, the United States men’s national team (USMNT) have only once reached the semi-finals, all the way back in 1930. Their best performance in the modern era is making the quarter-finals in the 2002 edition in Japan and South Korea.