Alleging the U.S. women’s soccer team earned $20 million more than the men’s team in 2015 but its members were paid four times less than the men’s, five female players have filed a complaint alleging pay discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
The EEOC has so far not commented on the Wednesday action by co-captains Carli Lloyd and Becky Sauerbrunn, forward Alex Morgan, midfielder Megan Rapinoe and goalkeeper Hope Solo.
The U.S. Women’s National Team won the 2015 World Cup for women and was compensated $2 million, divided among the players. The men’s soccer team finished 11th in its World Cup but was compensated $9 million, according to reports by ESPN and other news organizations.
Lawyer Jeffrey Kessler of Winston & Strawn filed the complaint on behalf of the women, saying the case “fits squarely into the Equal Pay Act [EPA].”
U.S. Soccer said it was “disappointed” in the action and added that compensation was based on a mutually agreed-upon collective bargaining agreement (CBA).