The US Soccer Federation on Tuesday settled a gender discrimination lawsuit with members of the US women's national team, agreeing to pay $24 million.
The case was filed in 2019 before the team won the World Cup. The 28 women who sued contended they were vastly underpaid compared to the men's team.
In a joint statement, the USWNT and the federation dedicated the agreement to current and former women's football leaders in the US.
“Getting to this day has not been easy,” the statement said. “The US women's national team players have achieved unprecedented success while working to achieve equal pay for themselves and future athletes.”
Under the terms of the settlement, the players will divide a lump sum of $22m while the other $2m will be placed into an account dedicated to supporting charities focused on women's and girls' football as well as helping players pursue their post-football career goals.
The settlement is contingent, however, on the ratification of a new collective bargaining agreement between the two sides.
The federation also agreed to pay the members of the men's and women's national teams the same amount in the future, whether they are competing in friendly matches or the World Cup.
The men's team has historically received significantly higher bonuses outside and during World Cup competitions, ESPN reported.
USWNT star Megan Rapinoe celebrated Tuesday's win as “a really amazing day” during an appearance with long-time teammate Alex Morgan on Good Morning America.
“I think we're going to look back on this day and say this is the moment that US soccer changed for the better,” she said.
“Obviously, we can't go back and undo the injustices that we faced, but the only justice coming out of this is we know something like this is never going to happen again and we can move forward in making soccer the best sport we possibly can in this country and setting up the next generation so much better than we ever had it.”
Former US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton also commented on the $24m settlement.
“Getting equal pay shouldn't require a lawsuit. But when it does, the people who fight for fairness make the world better for all of us,” she said in a tweet.
The women's players union said, however, that “much work needs to be done”.
“From the formation of the team in 1985 through the present, the players on the Women's National Team … have always been paid far less than men,” the USWNTPA said in a statement.
“The settlement announced today is an important step in righting the many wrongs of the past.”
Reuters contributed to this report
