USWNT, US Soccer Reach Settlement over Unequal Working Conditions

The United States women's national team announced Tuesday it had reached a settlement with U.S. Soccer regarding unequal working conditions for the USWNT, per Yahoo Sports' Caitlin Murray. 

In a statement, USWNT spokesperson Molly Levinson signaled her satisfaction with the deal while making clear the group's legal fight with U.S. Soccer over equal pay remains unresolved:

"We are pleased that the USWNT Players have fought for – and achieved – long overdue equal working conditions. We now intend to file our appeal to the court's decision which does not account for the central fact in this case that women players have been paid at lesser rates than men who do the same job.

"We remain as committed as ever to our work to achieve the equal pay that we legally deserve. Our focus is on the future and ensuring we leave the game a better place for the next generation of women who will play for this team and this country."

U.S. Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone also provided a statement, which read in part:

"This is an important and welcomed moment for U.S. Soccer and the Women's National Team players. Earlier this year, I stepped into the role as President, and shortly after we hired Will Wilson as our new CEO. We, and the rest of the leadership team at U.S. Soccer, are focused on taking a new approach at the Federation in handling all matters.

"I believe our approach helped us reach this agreement and demonstrates the commitment of U.S. Soccer's new leadership to find a new way forward with the USWNT. This settlement is good news for everyone and I believe will serve as a springboard for continued progress."

In March 2019, members of the USWNT player pool filed a lawsuit against U.S. Soccer arguing the federation was failing to provide compensation, treatment and working conditions that matched those offered to the men's national team.

The New York Times' Andrew Das explained that prior to the litigation U.S. Soccer addressed some concerns raised by the USWNT, such as travel and hotel accommodations and the quality of playing surface for matches, in the collective bargaining agreement the parties signed in 2017.

A federal judge dismissed the part of the case centered on unequal pay in May, ruling that U.S. Soccer hadn't violated the Equal Pay Act. Judge R. Gary Klausner did, however, allow the USWNT to continue pursuing its case regarding the unequal working conditions.

Murray noted the settlement on working conditions allows the USWNT to turn its focus toward appealing Klausner's ruling on the equal pay suit.