The six-year legal and public battle between the United States Women’s National Soccer Team (USWNT) and U.S. Soccer over equitable pay and treatment has concluded with a landmark settlement. The dispute began in 2016 when five prominent players—Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, Carli Lloyd, Becky Sauerbrunn, and Hope Solo—filed a wage discrimination complaint against U.S. Soccer.
The players claimed they were underpaid in comparison to the men’s team, even though they achieved greater success on the field. The settlement includes $24 million in payments, primarily as back pay, acknowledging years of unequal compensation. Furthermore, U.S. Soccer pledged to ensure equal pay for both teams in all competitions, including the World Cup, in future collective bargaining agreements (CBAs). This resolution represents a pivotal moment for gender equality in sports.
Central to the settlement is U.S. Soccer’s commitment to bridging the previously insurmountable pay gap between the men’s and women’s teams. The organization agreed to align compensation structures for the two teams in upcoming CBAs, a change that could funnel millions of dollars to the next generation of women players. Historically, World Cup prize money awarded by FIFA has been a significant contributor to this disparity, with men’s teams receiving exponentially larger payouts. U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone emphasized the importance of collaboration moving forward, stating that reaching this agreement was not easy but essential for progress. The settlement marks a shift in how labor disputes in professional sports can be addressed, setting a precedent for equitable treatment.
The USWNT’s fight has extended beyond the soccer field, placing them at the forefront of a broader movement for gender equity in sports. Their struggle has inspired athletes from other sports, such as Olympic gold medalists in ice hockey and WNBA players, to demand better pay and working conditions. Internationally, their efforts have sparked similar commitments from soccer federations in Norway, Australia, and the Netherlands to close the pay gap between male and female players. The global ripple effect of the USWNT’s advocacy underscores the broader significance of their fight, transforming it into a movement that transcends soccer and reaches athletes worldwide.
This victory was far from guaranteed. In 2020, a federal judge dismissed the players’ primary equal pay claims, ruling that the women had earned more on both a cumulative and per-game basis than the men during the years covered by the lawsuit. The players vowed to appeal the decision, but their legal leverage was significantly diminished. Despite the ruling, negotiations for improved working conditions continued, eventually laying the groundwork for the historic settlement. The ability to secure not only financial compensation but also systemic changes highlights the determination and strategic approach of the USWNT and its legal team.
The settlement’s implementation hinges on the ratification of new CBAs for both the men’s and women’s teams. A key obstacle in these negotiations is the disparity in FIFA’s World Cup prize money. To achieve equal pay, the men’s and women’s teams, along with U.S. Soccer, must agree to equalize the distribution of prize money. U.S. Soccer has committed to not signing new CBAs unless World Cup payments are equalized, which will require the men’s team to surrender or share millions of dollars in potential earnings. The men’s union has participated in some of the women’s negotiating sessions, but its members have not made public statements about the settlement. The alignment of both teams will be critical to ensuring the settlement’s success and maintaining progress.
The origins of the dispute trace back to disparities in bonuses, appearance fees, and even meal stipends during training camps. The players argued they earned as little as 40% of what men’s players received for similar work, despite their on-field achievements, including multiple World Cup victories. Initially, U.S. Soccer defended the pay gap by citing higher revenues and viewership for men’s games, but public backlash and closer scrutiny of equal pay laws forced the organization to abandon this stance. The USWNT leveraged its popularity and social media presence to rally public support, transforming its legal battle into a public relations campaign that highlighted gender inequities.
Although the judge’s 2020 ruling appeared to be a devastating setback for the players, it became a turning point for compromise. The settlement on working conditions later that year demonstrated a willingness from both sides to continue negotiating. With Cindy Parlow Cone, a former USWNT player, leading U.S. Soccer, and collaborating with team leaders like Sauerbrunn, a deal became achievable. This settlement reflects not only a financial resolution but also a cultural shift within the organization, aligning with modern values of fairness and equality.
While the agreement has been hailed as a monumental win, it is not the end of the fight for equality. Negotiations for the new CBAs are ongoing, with representatives like Crystal Dunn continuing to advocate for the team during crucial discussions. The settlement resolves the gender discrimination lawsuit filed in 2019, but it also ties equal pay to future agreements. This linkage underscores the importance of collective efforts among the men’s team, the women’s team, and U.S. Soccer to sustain the progress made. As Alex Morgan stated, the victory lies not only in financial compensation but also in the acknowledgment of discrimination and the promise of equal pay moving forward. The USWNT’s perseverance has secured a transformative outcome that will shape the future of sports, both in the U.S. and globally.
