By Marlene LenthangNBC
News
The stars of American women's soccer, including Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan, have reached a settlement of 24 million dollars with the United States Soccer Federation (US Soccer) after a lawsuit for salary inequality with the players of the men's team.
The historic settlement was announced Tuesday, years after a group of five US women's national team players filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission over unequal pay and treatment.
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Under the terms of the agreement, US Soccer will in future pay men and women on equal terms in all friendlies and tournaments, including the World Cup.
The EEOC complaint was filed in 2016 by Hope Solo and Carli Lloyd, now retired, Becky Sauerbrunn, Morgan and Rapinoe.
The figures between men and women in this sport are overwhelming.
FIFA awarded $400 million in prize money to the 32 teams at the 2018 Men's World Cup, and $38 million to champion France.
By comparison, FIFA awarded $30 million to the 24 teams at the 2019 Women's World Cup, including $4 million to the United States after winning its second straight title.
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The deal is a major victory for the United States women's soccer team, a global sensation and powerhouse of the sport, which has won four FIFA Women's World Cup titles since the competition's founding in 1991.
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This contrasts with the men's team, which came third in the first World Cup in 1930, and hasn't come close since.
US Soccer will pay $22 million to the players in the case and another $2 million in an account to benefit the players of the United States Women's National Soccer Team (USWNT) in their goals post-race and in charitable efforts related to women's soccer, under the terms of the agreement.
Players will be able to request up to $50,000 from this fund.
Rapinoe Megan, wearing number 15, celebrates victory after taking a penalty kick in the women's quarterfinal match between the Netherlands and the United States on day seven of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Yokohama International Stadium in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan, on July 30, 2021. Zhizhao Wu / Getty Images
“Getting to this day has not been easy.
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 after,” US Soccer and the players said in the joint statement.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
