The lawsuit is seeking financial damages as well as the end to what it calls discriminatory practices
Twenty-eight members of the United States women’s national team filed a gender discrimination lawsuit against the United States Soccer Federation on Friday.
The lawsuit, filed in United States District Court in Los Angeles, comes just three months before the team begins its World Cup defense in France.
The players are seeking the court's recognition of their legal rights under the Equal Pay Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Five USWNT players filed a wage discrimination lawsuit in 2016 and with that matter yet to be resolved, the matter has now been escalated.
The USSF has "paid only lip service to gender equality and continues to practice gender-based discrimination against its champion female employees on the WNT in comparison to its less successful male employees on the MNT," the suit charges.
The suit says it is looking to end the discriminatory practices and is also seeking punitive damages – which would likely equal millions of dollars.
The plaintiffs are headed by Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, Carli Lloyd and Becky Sauerbrunn. The rest of the 24 players suing are listed in alphabetical order, a sign the four veteran players are leading the charge.
Connor_spies
111
The lawsuit would make sense if the women’s team was bringing in the same amount of money. The only reason male sports players make so much money is bc they bring in so many paying fans and views which make tons of money which justifies the wages male athletes make. This lawsuit can only be worth something when the women’s team bring in as much money as the men’s team does. Bottom line is they’re not getting paid as much because they don’t bring in enough money.
Hodackn
44
The men’s team generate more income. That’s what the pay scale is based on. The USWNT make more money than any other woman’s national team. We all seem to forget that playing for your country is a selection privilege, not a job. CR7 and Messi make their $$ through their clubs not playing for their countries. Just stupid American mentality. They still understand nothing about World Football. Watch the 18 WC final during the anthems. White, black, green , yellow, you see tears and pride representing their country. Not a bunch of spoiled athletes taking a knee for reasons that have nothing to do with their flag. Name one match outside the U.S. too do it. I hardly miss a WNT game. I love and support them except MR. I never watch the Men’s team, or the god horrible MLS.