U.S. women soccer stars have reached a $24 million settlement with the U.S. Soccer Federation that the organization called a shared commitment to advancing equality in the sport.
The settlement ends a years-long fight over equal pay and resolves a class action gender discrimination lawsuit filed by group of current and former women's national team players.
Under the settlement, U.S. Soccer will pay men and women at an equal rate in the future in all friendlies and tournaments, including the World Cup. It also includes $22 million in back pay and $2 million to start a fund that benefits women's national team players in their post-career goals.
"Getting to this day has not been easy," U.S. Soccer said in a statement. "The U.S. Women's National Team players have achieved unprecedented success while working to achieve equal pay for themselves and future athletes."
"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. Together, we dedicate this moment to them," the statement continued.
The players had previously been seeking $66.7 million in back pay, ESPN reported, but the settlement is still considered a significant victory for the players.
Two-time World Cup winner and Olympic gold medalist Megan Rapinoe, one of the leaders of the lawsuit, called the settlement a huge win.
"For us, this is just a huge win in ensuring that we not only right the wrongs of the past, but set the next generation up for something we only dreamed of," Rapinoe told NBC's "TODAY" show. "I'm just so proud of the way we stuck together and really just kind of put our foot down."
The players initially filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 2016. More members joined the fight and in 2019 filed a gender discrimination lawsuit in U.S. District Court, citing violations of the Equal Pay Act and Civil Rights Act. A federal judge threw out the majority of the lawsuit in 2020, but lawyers filed an appeal, which led to the settlement.
The women's players' union, the USWNTPA, called the settlement "an important step in righting the many wrongs of the past."
"The USWNTPA congratulates the players and their litigation team on their historic success in fighting decades of discrimination perpetuated by the U.S. Soccer Federation. Although the settlement reached today is an incredible success, much work remains to be done," the union said in a statement.
U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone said the settlement allows everyone to move forward.
"We still have a lot of work to do with repairing the relationship with our players but we're on the road to that," Cone told ABC's Good Morning America. "They are great ambassadors for our sport and so now that we can work arm in arm together to grow the game both here at home and abroad and to raise the level of the women’s game across the globe, I think is really special and I'm really looking forward to turning the page on this and working together with our women's team."
The settlement is contingent on the ratification of a new collective bargaining agreement between the women's national team and U.S. Soccer. The current labor contract expires March 31.
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