U.S. Soccer, women’s team agree to new labor contract

The U.S. women’s national soccer team believes its new contract is both fair and good for the future of the sport.

The U.S. Soccer Federation and the team’s union announced Wednesday that a labor deal had been struck to settle an at times contentious dispute in which the players sought equitable wages to their male counterparts.

The collective bargaining agreement runs through 2021, meaning the players will be under contract through the 2019 World Cup in France and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The women will receive raises in base pay and bonuses as well as better provisions for travel and accommodations, including increased per diems. It also gives the players some control of certain licensing and marketing rights.

“It felt very empowering,” forward Alex Morgan said. “Because there is a whole issue going on in the country as far as equal pay and the fight for the gender pay gap. And I felt really happy with the agreement that we reached and the fact that we can now do what we came for and play soccer.”

Specific details about the deal were not disclosed, but it comes as the national team is preparing to play an exhibition match against Russia today in Frisco, Texas. The team faces Russia again Sunday in Houston.

The two sides convened for intense negotiations in Texas over the weekend. The contract was ratified by the players and the federation’s board Tuesday.

The team had been playing under a memorandum of understanding that expired Dec. 31.

“This has been by far the most involved the team has been,” Megan Rapinoe said before a training session Wednesday afternoon. “And the most say that we’ve had in anything. The full group decision from a diverse group of voting members, and I think that we’re excited that we have a deal. For me the best thing that came out of the deal is how it sets us up going into the future.”

The contract announcement followed an agreement between USA Hockey and its women’s national team for better compensation following a threat by players to boycott the world championships.

The Irish women’s national soccer team also said Tuesday it could skip an upcoming international match because of a labor dispute. The players, many of them amateurs, say they aren’t compensated for time off from their daily jobs. They say they don’t even have their own team apparel, instead sharing it with Ireland’s youth teams.