Cordeiro noted the USSF has increased its investment in the women's game in recent yearsGETTY MAGES
U.S. Soccer President Carlos Cordeiro claims he and the federation were "surprised by the federal class-action lawsuit" filed by the entire USWNT, according to Alicia DelGallo of PRO SOCCER USA. Cordeiro issued an open letter on Friday that reads in part, "U.S. Soccer believes that all female athletes deserve fair and equitable pay, and we strive to meet this core value at all times. Specifically, in April of 2017, we agreed to a fair and equitable collective bargaining agreement with the Women’s National Team, which included a contract structure that the players specifically requested to provide them with a guaranteed salary and benefits. At no point since that time have players raised concerns about the CBA itself, and we continue to work with them in good faith. We were therefore surprised by the complaint filed last week by the U.S. Women’s National Team." Cordeiro also wrote that the federation has "increased its investment in the women’s game in recent years and worked 'in close partnership with the players to ensure they have everything they need to perform at the highest level'" (PROSOCCERUSA.com, 3/15).
TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY: Cordeiro said that he spoke with veteran players from the USWNT and was "working with them to 'resolve this matter' -- and keep focus on the Women's Wold Cup that kicks off June 7 in France." The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Rachel Bachman noted Cordeiro's statement was the USSF's "first extended comment on the suit alleging gender discrimination." A spokesperson for the USWNT responded to Cordeiro, saying the federation was "not being truthful about multiple attempts by the players and their representatives to discuss and address discrimination and unequal pay and treatment" following the '17 CBA (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 3/16).
HYPOTHETICALLY SPEAKING: In Las Vegas, Richard Epstein noted the men's and women's national teams currently each have a "separate union collective bargaining agreement with the federation." Imagine if there were two "separate employers instead of the federation, one for women and one for men." That separation "gives women autonomy, but it also eliminates the possibility of any cross subsidy." Epstein: "My guess is that the women would oppose the separation because it would kill the cross subsidy. The lawsuit, therefore, should fail because pay parity increases gender discrimination, it doesn’t end it" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 3/17).
