The "long, bitter contract dispute" between the U.S.
women's soccer team and the USSF has "ended" after the
players agreed to a five-year contract through the 2004
Olympics which will "significantly increase their earning
potential and provide some long-term assurances for younger
players," according to Jere Longman of the N.Y. TIMES. As
part of the deal, if the U.S. team wins a gold medal in the
2000 Olympics and meets "all their contract incentives,"
each player could earn about $130,000 in salary and bonuses.
The players "would also have the right to conduct" their own
"indoor victory tour," which paid each player about $100,000
last fall. Sources say that under terms of the deal, U.S.
players "will be guaranteed a minimum" salary of $5,000 per
month through September in preparation for the Olympics.
Under the '99 World Cup contract, players were paid
"according to seniority," with the "veterans receiving"
$3,150 per month. Longman: "The new contract will provide
some long-term guarantees and will be tied to a formula that
keeps women's salaries in alignment with men's salaries"
(N.Y. TIMES, 1/30). In San Diego, Mark Zeigler wrote that
the U.S. women's team is "thought to have received major
concessions from a federation feeling heat from the public,
media, sponsors and perhaps even higher authorities."
Zeigler noted appearances by Michelle Akers and Mia Hamm
with President Clinton last week (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE,
1/29). U.S. D Joy Fawcett, on the agreement: "It's fair.
That's what I would call it. (The federation) is finally
starting to look at us as equals. It's nothing astounding.
It's what we wanted" (O.C. REGISTER, 1/30). A press
conference formally announcing the deal is scheduled for
1:00pm ET today at the All Star Cafe in N.Y. (THE DAILY).
