The USA women’s national team said they will launch an appeal after key parts of their equal pay lawsuit failed to make it to trial.
The view of a federal judge was that the USWNT’s claims of being paid less than their male counterparts were insufficient to warrant a trial.
The judge also said there was “insufficient evidence” that the reason WNT games were played on astroturf and not those of the USMNT was “unlawful discrimination.”
However, two aspects of the lawsuit could be headed for trial, with fewer travel funds and support services offered to the USWNT.
The judge wrote that the former “gives rise to an inference of a discriminatory motive,” while the latter issue was not raised until too late into the process to make a judgement on.
The trial date has been put back to 6 June due to the pandemic but Molly Levinson, a spokeswoman for the USWNT, said the women will “immediately appeal.”
“We are shocked and disappointed with today’s decision, but we will not give up our hard work for equal pay. 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 have learned that there are tremendous obstacles to change; we know that it takes bravery and courage and perseverance to stand up to them. We will appeal and press on. Words cannot express our gratitude to all who support us.”
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