U.S. womenâs soccer player Becky Sauerbrunn reacted to a pay equity agreement, saying she feels âextreme pride.â
The U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) announced Wednesday it reached a pay equity agreement with the menâs and womenâs soccer teams.
âI am feeling extreme pride. And to be able to say finally, equal pay for equal work feels very, very good,â Sauerbrunn, the United States Womenâs National Team Players Association president, said during an interview with âToday.â
She later added, âItâs tough to get so, so excited about something that we really should have had all along.â
U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone explained they need to give the menâs players union âa lot of creditâ for their role in the agreement.
âThey came to the table and were very collaborative and worked together with the womenâs team first and then came together with U.S. Soccer,â Cone said.
She continued, âI think this is going to have international ramifications in sport in general and hopefully into the business world, as well.â
Watch the interview below:
According to the organization, under the agreements, âU.S. Soccer becomes the first Federation in the world to equalize FIFA World Cup prize money awarded to the U.S. Womenâs National Team (USWNT) and the U.S. Menâs National Team (USMNT) for participation in their respective World Cups.â
Additionally, âThe new CBAs improve non-economic terms, including player health and safety, data privacy and the need to balance responsibilities to both club and country.â
Walker Zimmerman, member of USNSTPA leadership group, said in a statement, âThey said equal pay for men and women was not possible, but that did not stop us and we went ahead and achieved it.â
He added, âWe hope this will awaken others to the need for this type of change, and will inspire FIFA and others around the world to move in the same direction.â
The announcement received praise from several on social media.
NBC News noted the menâs World Cup winner in 2018, France, brought in $38 million, while the U.S. womenâs team only raked in $4 million for their 2019 win.
