In the interim, the U.S. Soccer Federation agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by women soccer players. The lawsuit was filed by a group of players who believe that the league is discriminating against women players. The settlement is contingent upon the ratification by the USWNT players union of a new collective bargainING arrangement. This will help stabilize women soccer in the United States.
U.S. soccer settles with women’s soccer players
After their court case was dismissed, the USSF reached a settlement with female soccer players. Carlos Cordeiro, president of the USSF made comments about the difference in skill between women and men that led to the lawsuit. Cordeiro claimed that men are more skilled than women, but that is false. After the allegations were made public, Cordeiro quit his job.
The settlement is $22 million and will be distributed to 28 players on the USWNT. The $2 million remaining will be donated to a women's soccer charity. The settlement resolves litigation that was filed in 2019 against the USSF on the grounds that gender discrimination exists in the United States soccer federation. The women's team claimed they were not paid as much as men and that they were exposed to more dangerous playing conditions.
The women's team is just as popular than their male counterparts. Their combined Instagram followers are 2.1 million. Despite negative press surrounding U.S. Soccer settlements, the women's football team remains one of most popular in the United States.
Settlement contingent on the acceptance of the new collective bargaining agreements by USWNT Players Association
The United States Soccer Federation was able to reach a tentative deal with the USWNT Players Association. However, this settlement is subject to the ratification or modification of a collective bargaining agreement. This settlement is a significant win for gender equality in the sport. The parties have agreed to extend the current CBA through March 31, at which point the parties will seek final approval of the settlement.
The U.S. Soccer Federation has reached a new collective agreement (CBA) with the USWNT players’ union. This will guarantee that both teams will be paid equally and have the same working conditions as before December 2020. The settlement will also make the women's and men’s teams pay according their performance. Both teams will be paid equally via pay-to-play.
A USWNT player group filed a complaint against the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in March 2016. The complaint claimed that the USWNT was being unfairly discriminated. US Soccer, despite dismissing the complaint in March 2016, indicated that it was open to negotiations and announced in November that they had offered the same contracts to players as the men's soccer team. Both sides came to an agreement that would ensure equal pay for all players and improve the game of soccer for women in America.
Future of women's soccer: Impact of settlement
A federal judge has dismissed many of the claims that USWNT players made against U.S. soccer. The settlement won't have any impact on the future American women's soccer. But it does indicate that the USWNT will be paid equally for World Cup wins and for other competitive events. The USWNT's latest collective bargaining deal will need to be approved in court.
Women's soccer has won with the players' collective bargaining arrangement. It means that women's clubs will see a significant increase of base pay and better match bonuses. This could double the income of some players. Players will have greater control over licensing and marketing rights, in addition to their increased salaries.
The settlement provides support for future generations. Settlements will enable female players to have the same travel benefits and benefits as male players. It will also improve trust between players and federations. This will be a first step towards the long term goal of improving the future women's soccer.