USWNT: Big fat checks, big large bills

The GIST: Queue up Cardi B, because we’re celebrating the USWNT’s settlement with the USSF, a major win for past, present and future players. About damn time.

The history: This saga began back in March 2016 when five players (Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, Becky Sauerbrunn, Carli Lloyd and Hope Solo) filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission saying that the USSF paid the USWNT significantly less than their male counterparts, a charge that went without resolution.

• Three years later, 28 players filed the now-settled lawsuit in federal court, alleging countless examples of systemic gender discrimination. Four months after filing, the USWNT won the 2019 World Cup, with “Equal Pay” chants erupting at matches and their celebratory parade.

• A dismissal of the lawsuit, an appeal of that dismissal and many Megan Rapinoe hairstyles later, yesterday’s incredible news marks the (near) end of this years-long battle. Pop that champagne.

The details: The $24 million settlement will send $22 million in back pay directly to the 28 players involved in the case, with the remaining $2 million set aside to “benefit USWNT players in their post-career goals and charitable efforts related to women’s and girls’ soccer.”

The bigger picture: This isn’t just a win for the USWNT, it’s a win for women everywhere. The team’s equal pay lawsuit inspired others to stand up for equality in their own industries and will hopefully also inspire change on the international soccer stage, with renewed calls for FIFA to offer equal prize money to men’s and women’s teams.

• As Rapinoe said, “If you’re not paying attention to this right now and what’s happening in women’s sports, you’re sleeping on the whole thing.” This is just the beginning.