Dear Assholes of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) and anyone else being difficult,
Hello, friends (lol not really.) Hi, from behalf of all girls who play soccer, love soccer or anyone who are just half-way decent human beings. Congratulations! You're getting sued by five of the most badass women on the planet! Meet Carli Lloyd, Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, Becky Sauerbrunn, and Hope Solo (shown below from left to right.) Captains Carli and Becky, Queen of the Universe Megan, Princess Alex and the baddest girl alive, Hope Solo. Good luck getting outta this one!
Let's get straight to the point. I have one simple question for ya, US Soccer Federation. So, um, why do you think that it's okay to pay the USWNT significantly less than the USMNT? It's 2016 and you're being sued for wage disputes? Really? Their faces below say it all. . .
Why? Why are you paying the winners of three World Cup Finals and four Olympic Gold Medals less than the winners of zero of both games? Why are you paying the team who's 2015 revenue was $20 million more than the other team? Why are you paying the best team in the world, the team who completely runs the table, less than the #29 ranked team in the world? Why are you paying one of the most dominant teams of all times so much less than an average team? It doesn't make logical sense.
Here are examples of wage disparities between the men's and women's national teams.
During a calendar year, both the men's and the women's teams are required to play 20 friendlies (or exhibition games that don't matter.) The men are paid a minimum of $5,000 with an $8,166 bonus for a win. The women's team is paid only $3,600 per friendly with a $1,350 bonus per win. Basically, if the women win all 20 required friendly matches, the make $99,000, to the men's $263,320 if they win all 20 friendlies. If the women lose all 20, they only make $72,000 to the men's $100,000.
In the World Cup, bonuses are awarded per player to the top three teams. For a third place finish, the USSF pays the women $20,000 per player and the men would be paid $52,083 per player. The women are paid $32,500 per player and the men would be paid $260,417 per player for second place finishes. Winners of the World Cup, the most prestigious and famed soccer tournament in the world, the women were paid $75,000 per player and the men would be paid $390,625. The women have won three, placed second at one, and taken home the bronze medal in three. The highest the men have ever finished was third place in the first ever World Cup in 1930.
When in national team training camp or traveling for the team, the women's team are given a smaller daily allowance. When traveling domestically, the women are given $50 per day. The men receive $62.50 per day. While overseas, the women receive $60 per day, while the men are given $75 per day.
Players on the women have talked about how the hotels in which they are housed are subpar. Women fly coach, while men are first class or chartered. Men never play on turf, while the women frequently play on artificial surfaces. Why are the women making less? It's not fair.
When you ask two non-soccer fans to name a player on a United States National Soccer Team, one says Alex Morgan and the other says Hope Solo. Neither could name a single player on the men's team. The women's team is the well-known, identifiable team of the United States. We might as well start treating them like equals.
You call yourselves the United States Soccer Federation, but you're sure as hell not actin' too American. . .
Sincerely,
An Angry American Soccer Fan
