CLOSING THE GAP

2016):

The final straw (March 2016):

When the United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) routed Japan 5-2 in the 2015 Women’s World Cup, over 25 million people watched, making that game became the most watched soccer match in US TV history. Not only did the team win an impressive trophy, but they also generated $16 million dollars’ worth of revenue that exceeded their projections. In all, the women brought in over $20 million more dollars more than the men’s team that season, but they received paychecks worth almost four times less. As a result, five players decided to draw attention to the injustice, and filed a federal wage discrimination complaint to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The fight for equal pay had just begun.

When the United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) defeated Japan 5-2 in the 2015 Women’s World Cup, more than 25 million people watched, according to ESPN. Not only did the team win a trophy, they also generated $16 million worth of revenue that exceeded U.S. Soccer projections. In all, the women brought in $20 million more than the men’s team that season, but they received paychecks worth almost four times less. As a result, five players drew attention to the injustice and filed a federal wage discrimination complaint to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The fight for equal pay was underway.

Raising the stakes (March

Raising the stakes (March

2019):

2019):

After two years and two more successful seasons, the women remained unsatisfied with the lack of progress to close the pay gap. The USWNT withdrew the federal complaint to the EEOC and heightened the issue by suing U.S. Soccer for gender discrimination. The suit addressed not only the significant difference in pay but also the equipment, staff and training conditions.

After two years and two more successful seasons passed, very little was done to significantly close the pay gap between the women’s and men’s teams. While the team had initially filed a federal complaint to the EEOC, they withdrew that and decided to heighten the issue by suing U.S. Soccer for gender discrimination. The suit not only addressed the significant difference in pay, but also the equipment, staff and training conditions. After filing the lawsuit, the team only needed to do one thing: prove they were worthy.

First hurdle cleared (February 2020):

First hurdle cleared (Feb 2020):

With the impending gender discrimination trial, U.S. Soccer sought an agreement with the USWNT before the issue went to court. The players asked for $67 million — the calculated total the team would have received based on performance, schedule and wins, if they were paid in the same proportions as the men. U.S. Soccer agreed. The women won their first battle off the field.

And another blow (April 2020):

Taking matters into their own hands (early 2017):

Taking matters into their own hands (early 2017):

With no immediate reaction by U.S. Soccer, the players took matters into their own hands and fired their union’s chief. USWNT players reorganized their Players Association by electing team members to management positions. Player-driven, the team stayed connected through meetings, text messages and emails, ordering top priorities to focus on during negotiation sessions with U.S. Soccer and its lawyers.

With no immediate change, the players took the issue upon themselves and decided they needed a fresh start. By firing their union’s chief, they reorganized their USWNT Player Association by electing team members management positions in the association. Player-driven, the team stayed connected through meetings, text messages and emails, deciding the top priorities to be fought for during negotiation sessions with the United States Soccer Federation (U.S. Soccer) and its lawyers.

Fans get involved (July

2019):

Fans get involved (July 2019):

By the summer of 2019 and the start of the Women’s World Cup in France, the players’ fight had gained notable traction. The USWNT was not just competing for a back-to-back World Cup title; they were out to prove to U.S. Soccer why they deserved a higher paycheck. The USWNT fans seemed to agree, as they went from celebrating to chanting “Equal pay!” in the stadium right after the USWNT secured the trophy. These thunderous chants drew the attention of the media.

By the summer of 2019, the player’s fight had gained notable traction, as the Women’s World Cup in France had begun. And the USWNT wasn’t just competing for a back-to-back World Cup title, they were out to prove to U.S. Soccer why they were worthy of a higher paycheck. The USWNT fans seemed to agree, as they went from celebrating to chanting “Equal pay!” in the stadium right after the USWNT secured the trophy. These thunderous chants drew the attention of the media, just what the team wanted.

Fight gets messy (March

2020):

Fight gets messy (March

With the impending gender discrimination trial, U.S. Soccer sought an agreement with the USWNT before the issue went to court. The players asked for $67 million –the calculated total the team would have received based off performance, schedule and wins, if they were paid in the same proportions as the men were. U.S. Soccer agreed. The women finally won their first battle off the field.

2020):

Still celebrating their first triumph, the USWNT was hit with a court filing from U.S. Soccer, whose lawyers argued that through “indisputable science,” the women on the World Cup winning soccer team were inferior to men. U.S. Soccer fired those lawyers shortly after, and the U.S. Soccer president, Carlos Cordeiro, resigned.

Finally, the ruling from the players’ suit from March 2019 was released, and it was not what the players had hoped for. The judge stated that their current salary was sufficient. In response, the USWNT filed an appeal.

And another blow (April 2020):

Finally, the ruling from the players suit from March 2019 was released, and it was not good news for the players. Not only did the judge state that their current salary was sufficient but told the team they would never win. Undeterred, the USWNT filed an appeal.

Hope on the horizon (February

2022):

A step in the right direction (November 2020):

Still celebrating their first triumph, the USWNT was hit blindsided. U.S. Soccer lawyers argued in a court filing that through “indisputable science”, the women on the World Cup winning soccer team were inferior to men. While U.S. Soccer shortly fired those lawyers, the case was detrimental to the USWNT’s cause and set them back significantly. Carlos Cordeiro, the U.S. Soccer president, resigned. Any other plans and compromises to be made were shattered.

With the federal court appeal looming, U.S. Soccer began to make travel, venue, staffing and hotel accommodations for the women as similar as possible to the men’s.

A step in the right direction (November

Equality at last (May 2022):

2020):

With the federal court appeal looming, U.S. Soccer began to make travel, venue, staffing and hotel accommodations for the women as similar as possible to the men.

After two years of negotiations and an expiring labor contract, U.S. Soccer reached a deal with the USWNT, awarding them $24 million for the years they made less money than the men. Additionally, they made a pledge to equalize pay between the men and women. This new labor deal was paused until it could be finalized.

Hope on the horizon (February 2022):

Suddenly, U.S. Soccer reached a deal with the USWNT, giving them $24 million dollars, mostly back pay for the years they made less money than the men. However, even better news that resulted from the deal: a pledge of U.S. Soccer to equalize pay between the men and women. This new labor deal was paused until it could be finalized.

Equality, at last (May 2022)

The pledge that U.S. Socce r made to the USWNT at long last, was enforced and the women got their deserved money.

After years of advocacy, the pledge that U.S. Soccer made to the USWNT was enforced, and the women got the money they set out for. In it, the two collective bargaining agreements — one for the men’s team and one for the women’s team — have “identical economic terms,” most notably including the equalization of World Cup money. Under the new deal, each team will evenly split 90% of their pooled total earnings from the 2022 and 2023 World Cups. U.S. Soccer receives the remaining 10%, according to CNN. Therefore, the USWNT will receive $6.5 million from the men’s team reaching the World Cup Knockout rounds — more than they garnered for winning their own tournaments in 2015 and 2019.