FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football – Women’s World Cup – Group F – United States v Thailand – Stade Auguste-Delaune, Reims, France – June 11, 2019 Alex Morgan of the U.S. celebrates scoring their twelfth goal with Megan Rapinoe REUTERS/Christian Hartmann
NEW YORK (Reuters) – The U.S. women’s soccer team’s claims for equal pay were dismissed by a court on Friday, handing a victory to the United States Soccer Federation.
Judge R. Gary Klausner of the United States District Court for the Central District of California ruled in favor of U.S. Soccer, dismissing players’ claims that they were under paid in comparison with the men’s national team.
“The WNT (Women’s National Team) has been paid more on both a cumulative and an average per-game basis than the MNT (Men’s National Team) over the class period,” the court said in its summary judgment.
The judge, however, also ruled that players’ claims they do not receive equal treatment as the men when it comes to travel, training, housing and other areas could proceed.
The trial date is set for June 16.
A spokeswoman for the team said “we are shocked and disappointed” with the decision.
Team co-captain Megan Rapinoe tweeted: “We will never stop fighting for EQUALITY.”
Reporting by Amy Tennery and Steve Keating; Editing by Sandra Maler