USWNT's equal pay case dismissed, judge rules in favor of U.S. Soccer

A federal judge on Friday dismissed the United States women's national team's gender discrimination lawsuit against U.S. Soccer, dealing the players a massive blow in their yearslong battle for equal pay.

Twenty-eight players filed the lawsuit in March 2019, arguing that they faced gender discrimination for several years. They were seeking more than $66 million in damages.

The players - led by World Cup winners Alex Morgan, Carli Lloyd, and Megan Rapinoe - said they were paid less than their equivalents on the United States men's national team.

U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner ruled that the women were actually paid more in total and on a per-game basis.

"The history of negotiations between the parties demonstrates that the WNT rejected an offer to be paid under the same pay-to-play structure as the MNT, and the WNT was willing to forgo higher bonuses for benefits, such as greater base compensation and the guarantee of a higher number of contracted players," Klausner wrote in a 32-page document obtained by Anne M. Peterson and Ronald Blum of The Associated Press.

Klausner added: "Accordingly, plaintiffs cannot now retroactively deem their CBA worse than the MNT CBA by reference to what they would have made had they been paid under the MNT's pay-to-play terms structure when they themselves rejected such a structure."

However, Klausner left intact claims that U.S. Soccer discriminated against the women's team by failing to provide equal travel accommodations and working conditions. A trial to hear those allegations is expected to begin June 16.

Molly Levinson, a spokesperson for the USWNT, said they will appeal Friday's key ruling.

"We are shocked and disappointed by today's decision, but we will not give up our hard work for equal pay," Levinson said in a statement. "We are confident in our case and steadfast in our commitment to ensuring that girls and women who play this sport will not be valued as lesser just because of their gender."