On Tuesday, a court filing announced that players for the USWNT have settled a class action lawsuit regarding equal pay against the U.S. Soccer Federation for $24 million.

The lawsuit, which was originally filed in March 2019, will grant the 28 players who filed a total of $22 million, which is to be distributed according to a model proposed by the and given approval from the District Court. They will also direct $2 million to an account set up for the benefit of USWNT players, with the intent to support them in achieving their goals post-career, and assist in charitable work that pertains to women’s and girl’s soccer. Each individual player will have the opportunity to apply for a portion of this fund, up to $50,000.

Originally the players had asked to receive back pay, that would total $66.7 million, however multiple settlement negotialtions have been in play for nearly three years, since the lawsuit was originally filed. 

Players involved in the widely publicised suit rejoiced to media outlets and on social media following the announcement.

The class action suit was first filed under the Equal Pay Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, looking at both equal pay and working conditions. 

The player’s claims regarding working conditions were settled out of court in December 2020.

In May 2020, a judge ruled for the equal pay portion to be dismissed, on the grounds that during the period under consideration, because each woman playing on the team had made more money per game than the men did. 

In July 2021, the women appealed U.S. District Court Judge Gary Klausner’s decision on their equal pay claim, stating that they had to win more of their games in order to receive their bonuses.

This was possible because the men’s and women’s teams work under different unions and contracts. 

Prior to the settlement, a male player would be granted $67,000 for earning a spot on the World Cup team, whereas women making the tean would receive $37,500. 

Additionally, the men would earn $5,000 for playing, and losing, a game, but the women would not earn anything for a loss, and $5,250 for winning a game against a team ranked outside of the top eight. 

The men would stand to earn nearly double for a win, with potential to earn $9,375 for winning against any team ranked outside of the top 25. 

Also in the contract, if the men’s team were to win the World Cup, something ESPN politely refers to as a “long shot,” each player would receive more than $407,000.

The women, who’ve won four, each stand to make $110,000.

The settlement’s announcement comes weeks before a hearing on the case, that had been scheduled for March 7.

While this lawsuit may be closed, some player’s fight for equal pay in professional soccer does not appear to be. Former captain Megan Rapino told ESPN she is ready to bring the discussion to FIFA, in hopes of equalized resources, investment, and World Cup prize money.