USWNT GM Kate Markgraf said the team is "committed to finding a solution in a fair way" when it comes to resolving the equal pay lawsuit the team filed against the U.S. Soccer Federation in March. Markgraf said, "We want to pay the men and the women as much as possible, but balance that with trying to fund all the youth programs that lead to sustained success in the future. That's our goal and we hope that we can put this behind us as soon as possible." She added "everyone is really committed to try to find a fair solution for everyone" ("U.S.-Costa Rica," ESPN2, 11/10).
MAJOR STEP FORWARD: In N.Y., Andrew Das noted the judge overseeing the USWNT's gender discrimination lawsuit against U.S. Soccer "granted the players class status," an "important victory for the women that appeared to support the claim that they are subjected to unequal working conditions and unequal pay." Friday's ruling by California U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner "drew no conclusions on whether the players' allegations against the federation were true, or whether U.S. Soccer had acted in violation of federal law." It "merely noted that the players had sufficiently met the burden to be treated as a class rather than as individuals." USWNT F Megan Rapinoe said that the ruling was received by the players as "validation of their equal-pay campaign" (N.Y. TIMES, 11/9).
