The U.S. women’s national soccer team (USWNT) and the governing body U.S. Soccer have agreed to resolve the equal pay claims in litigation that has been pending since 2019, the two parties said on Tuesday.
“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.
U.S. media reported that under the terms of the agreement, players will receive a total of $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.
The settlement is contingent upon the ratification of a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the USWNT players’ union and the federation.
Once a new CBA has been ratified, final approval of the settlement by the District Court will be scheduled.
Players will receive $22 million in back pay as direct compensation as part of the resolution of the long legal dispute, which goes back to a 2016 complaint filed to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
“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.”
