In the interim, the U.S. Soccer Federation agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by women soccer players. The suit was brought by players who claim that the league discriminates against women players. The settlement, which is conditional on the USWNT player's union ratifying a new Collective bargainING Agreement, will help stabilize women’s 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, USSF's president, commented on the differences in skill between women & men. This led to the lawsuit. Cordeiro said that the men have more skills than the women do, and that was not true. After the public revelations, Cordeiro resigned.
The settlement amounts to $22 million. It will be divided among 28 USWNT members. The remaining $2 million will go towards a women's soccer charity. This settlement is the result of litigation that was filed against USSF in 2019. It was based on allegations that the USSF discriminates against women. The women's side argued that they were paid less than the men and faced more dangerous playing conditions.
The women's team has become just as popular as 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 ratification of new collective bargaining agreement by USWNT players association
The United States Soccer Federation, the USWNT Players Association and the United States Soccer Federation came to a tentative settlement. This agreement is contingent on the ratification by the new collective bargaining agreements. The settlement is a major win for gender equality in the game. 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's new collective bargaining agreement (CBA), will ensure that both sides will enjoy equal working conditions and pay in 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.
In March 2016, a player association representing the USWNT filed a complaint to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging that the USWNT had been unfairly discriminated against. 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 reached an agreement which will guarantee equal pay for players, and make the sport more accessible to women in America.
Future of women’s soccer will be affected by the settlement
A federal judge has thrown out many aspects of the lawsuit that the USWNT players brought against U.S. Soccer. It's unclear whether the settlement will affect the future of women's soccer in the United States. However, the settlement indicates that the USWNT won't be paid for World Cup wins or other competitive events. The USWNT's collective bargaining agreement must be approved by the District Court.
The players' collective bargaining agreement has been a win-win for women's soccer. It means that women's clubs will see a significant increase of base pay and better match bonuses. Some players may see this as doubling their income. The players will now have the ability to control their licensing and marketing rights in addition to increased salaries.
Future generations will also benefit from the settlement. 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.