A federal judge dismissed demands for equal pay made by the U.S. women's soccer team. The women's team filed a gender discrimination lawsuit demanding more than $66 million in compensation because the U.S. Men's National Team earns more money than they do.
Judge R. Gary Klausner ruled that the disparity in how the men and women were paid was due to the women's team's choices during the collective bargaining process and not discrimination on the part of the U.S. Soccer Federation. Klausner said the union for the women's team rejected a proposal that would have paid them using the same structure as the men's team.
The women's team vowed to appeal the decision.
"We are shocked and disappointed with today's decision, but we will not give up our hard work for equal pay," USWNT spokesperson Molly Levinson said in a statement. "We are confident in our case and steadfast in our commitment to ensuring that girls and women who play this sport will not be valued as lesser just because of their gender. We will appeal and press on."