The U.S. national women's soccer team wins $24 million in equal pay settlement

Carli Lloyd, Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe
United States women's national soccer team members Alex Morgan, left, listens as teammate Megan Rapinoe speak to reporters during a news conference in New York, Friday, May 24, 2019. U.S. women soccer players reached a landmark agreement with the sport’s American governing body to end a six-year legal battle over equal pay, a deal in which they are promised $24 million plus bonuses that match those of the men. The U.S. Soccer Federation and the women announced a deal Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022, that will have players split $22 million, about one-third of what they had sought in damages. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

The U.S. Women’s National Soccer team has reached a proposed settlement in its class action equal pay lawsuit against the U.S. Soccer Federation.

“We are pleased to announce that, contingent on the negotiation of a new collective bargaining agreement, we will have resolved our longstanding dispute over equal pay and proudly stand together in a shared commitment to advancing equality in soccer,” both parties said in a joint statement on Tuesday.

U.S. Soccer has agreed to pay a lump sum of $22 million in back pay to the players, ESPN reports, which will be distributed in a manner proposed by players and approved by the court. The federation will also put $2 million into a fund for USWNT players’ post-career goals and charitable efforts, with each player able to apply for up to $50,000.