Utah Royals Forward: Equal Pay Talks Never Got Past ‘Concept Of Paying Us Equally’
Aug 15, 2019, 10:55 AM | Updated: 4:27 pm
Christen Press #23 of the United States smiles as she receives a cheer from the crowd before her corner kick during the first half of the first game against the Republic of Ireland in the USWNT Victory Tour at Rose Bowl on August 03, 2019 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Utah Royals star Christen Press joined fellow US Women’s National Team Member Megan Rapinoe on the Today Show to discuss next steps in the equal pay controversy after mediation talks broke down.
The USWNT won their fourth FIFA World Cup this year. The final match was watched by 25.4 million people, according to Fox Sports, making it the most-watched soccer match on English-language television in the United States since 2015.
Three members of the USWNT play for the Utah Royals – Christen Press, Becky Sauerbrunn and Kelley O’Hara.
Big smile for all the @UtahRoyalsFC love ! pic.twitter.com/3kCWOz96Bd
— Christen Press (@ChristenPress) July 23, 2019
Equal Pay
The Wall Street Journal reported that from 2016 to 2018, the US Women’s National Team generated $50.8 million in revenue, compared with $49.9 million for men’s games.
“All players, I’m saying every player at this World Cup, put on the most incredible show that you could ever ask for. We can’t do anything more to impress, to be better ambassadors, to take on more, to play better, to do anything. It’s time to move that conversation forward to the next step,” said Rapinoe immediately following the win.
Following the World Cup members of the team were in closed-door mediation regarding the gender discrimination lawsuits filed against the U.S. Soccer Federation, but the discussions broke down with no resolution.
Fans in the stadium chanted "equal pay" after the USWNT's win yesterday
(via @minapark) pic.twitter.com/0kfT0vK9Lo
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 8, 2019
The face of the equal pay battle Rapinoe said, “When they are ready to have a conversation about equal pay, the conversations will go better. We didn’t feel like they were there or willing to get there,” during a segment on the Today Show.
Press joined in with details about why the mediation wasn’t successful.
“I think unfortunately it was just the concept of paying us equally, we never even got past that,” said Press.
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Next Steps
The Utah Royals forward went on to explain that the proposal made by the women was simply to be compensated the same way a man would for every game that they play in or win.
Three members of the @UtahRoyalsFC were on the championship team. https://t.co/TSqr0Ie8QV
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) August 15, 2019
“It’s just been true that we will never achieve, as women, any type of social equality without financial equality,” Press defended. “We are looking for equal pay…not talking about it any longer.”
When asked about the possibility of going to trial Rapione said it is “definitely a possibility” and that the team is open to the conversation when they (U.S. Soccer) are ready to seriously have it.
“Part of being on the Women’s National Team means you are taking part in this torch-carrying for women,” concluded Press when asked about remaining successful on the field while fighting the battles off of the field.
