The U.S. Soccer Federation and the women announced a deal Tuesday that will have about two dozen current and former members of the U.S. women's national team split $22 million, about one-third of what they had sought in damages. The USSF also agreed to establish a fund with $2 million to benefit the players in their post-soccer careers and charitable efforts aimed at growing the sport for women.
THAT IS HIGHER FRIDAY, SATURDAY, AND SUNDAY. BACK TO YOU. >>> PROFESSIONAL WOMEN'S SOCCER PLAYERS ARE CELEBRATING A VICTORY TODAY AFTER A SIX-YEAR COURT BATTLE WITH SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE WORLD CUP TEAM OVER EQUAL PAY. THE U.S. SOCCER FEDERATION REACHED A SETTLEMENT WITH THE PLAYERS. AMANDA LAMB SPOKE WITH MEMBERS OF THE NORTH CAROLINA COURAGE. SHE JOINS US FROM CARY. . >> Reporter: THIS IS THE RESULT OF A LAWSUIT FILED IN MARCH OF 2019 BY 28 PLAYERS FROM THE U.S. WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM. THIS IS A BIG DAY FOR WOMEN'S SOCCER PLAYERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND FOR THE NORTH CAROLINA COURAGE HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA. THEY HAVE JUST GOT OFF THIS FIELD A FEW MINUTES AGO. THEY'RE PRACTICING FOR THE UPCOMING CHALLENGE CUP. EVEN AS THE PLAYERS TOOK THE FIELD ON THE WET AND GLOOMY MORNING, THERE WAS DEFINITELY AN UNDERCURRENT OF EXCITEMENT ABOUT THE SETTLEMENT. IT WILL DIVIDE $22 MILLION BETWEEN ABOUT TWO DOZEN CURRENT AND FORMER MEMBERSOVER THE U.S. WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM, MUCH OF IT BACK PAY FOR COMPENSATION THEY SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED. ANOTHER $2 MILLION WILL ESTABLISH A FUND FOR SOCCER PLAYERS AND CHARITIES. EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, U.S. SOCCER AGREED TO EQUAL LIES PAY BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN DURING THE TEAM COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT. MANY BELIEVE THE SETTLEMENT WILL HAVE A BIG IMPACT EVEN BEYOND SPORTS. >> A LOT OF WOMEN IN THE WORKING WORLD CAN APPRECIATE THIS. FOR WOMEN, A LOT OF TIMES YOU'RE JUDGED ON YOUR RESULTS. YOU HAVE TO WORK TWICE AS HARD TO GET TO THE SAME PLACE AS A MAN. >> I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S COMPLETE SET IN FOR WHAT IT WILL DO FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. I DO KNOW IT'S A HUGE MOMENT. FROM TODAY ON, THE FUTURE OF WOMEN'S SOCCER AND WOMEN'S SPORTS WILL BE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT I HAVE GROWN UP WITH. . >> Reporter: THE SETTLEMENT IS ON THE HEELS OF AN AGREEMENT IN 2021 WHERE U.S. SOCCER AGREED TO EQUAL WORKING CONDITIONS FOR MEN AND WOMEN, INCLUDING THEIR TRAINING FACILITIES AND TRAVEL ACCOMMODATIONS. WE SPOKE WITH THE COACH OF THE TEAM TODAY, AND HE SUPPORTS THE SETTLEMENT 100%. HE HOPES IT WILL ATTRACT MORE WOMEN TO THE SPORT. AND ONE INTERESTING SIDE BAR. U.S. WOMEN WON FOUR WORLD CUPS SINCE THE PROGRAM'S START IN 1985, WHILE THE MEN HAVE NOT REACHED THE SEMIFINAL SINCE A LITTLE SPORTS TRIVIA FOR YOU. >> THE WOMEN ARE AMAZING. AND FINALLY, A LEVEL PLAYING
