U.S. women bringing in more game cash than men’s team

More than three months after the USWNT filed a gender discrimination lawsuit against the U.S. Soccer Federation, the U.S. women’s national team has more ammo to add in its fight against wage disparity.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the last three audited financial reports from the USSF reveal that the powerhouse women’s team generated more game revenue than its male counterpart since the 2015 Women’s World Cup.

The USWNT generated nearly $51 million in revenue (mostly from ticket sales) from 2016-18. In the same time frame, the USMNT generated just under $50 million.

In March, the team filed its suit citing “institutionalized gender discrimination” — which affected USWNT player’s training, travel, coaching, and medical treatment — that continued the long-time battle regarding unequal pay between the USWNT and the USMNT. The USSF cited lower revenue generation as the reasoning for the difference in pay. This new report gives the USWNT’s 28 members, as well as the various former players also tied to the suit, the hard evidence they need to call out the USSF.

The USSF initially said it was surprised the suit had been filed.

The USWNT is currently in France competing in the 2019 Women’s World Cup in a bid to defend its 2015 tournament victory. A win at this tournament would give the U.S., currently the No.1-ranked team in the world, its fourth World Cup. Meanwhile, the men’s team couldn’t even qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.