Bridging the gender pay gap

In March 2019, the USWNT presented a very strong case for discrimination against the U.S. Soccer Federation. Among the many compelling points, the lawsuit’s key component is the pay gap between the men’s and women’s team. Sponsor LUNA Bar announced a few weeks after the filing that it would pay the $31,250 difference as bonus for the USWNT.

Annika Sorenstam was the 1998 LPGA Player of the Year after winning four tournaments and earning a record $1 million. Compared to her male counterparts’ earnings, that number would rank her around 24th place.

The tennis world has long history to closing the gap. Billie Jean King threatened a boycott of the 1973 US Open in order to attain equal prize money for all competitors. The USTA immediately leveled the awards and has remained consistent to current day. Wimbledon all but closed the gap in 1977, finally equalizing the gender pay 30 years later in 2007.

The WNBA still has a long way to go for closing the pay gap. The salary for 6-year player is capped at $115,000, while the average among all WNBA players is no more than $80,000. This is where the disparity comes in: An entry-level NBA referee salary is $150,000. The argument will most likely gain steam going into the 2019 season as the WNBPA can start negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement.

The U.S. Women’s National Hockey Team followed the path of the women’s soccer team when advocating for more fair wages. They found themselves with the same $1,000 monthly stipend in lead up to the Olympics, even though they won gold for the first time in 20 years in 2018. They paired up with the same legal firm that represented the USWNT in the original 2016 discrimination case. After a year of negotiations, there was little movement and the 2019 world championship was on the horizon. Even though they were ranked no. 1, the team was determined to boycott. Two days before the championships, the women’s hockey team reached an agreement that would do away with the side jobs they needed to make ends meet in previous years.

Although female UFC fighters earn less than males in the similar weight classes, both Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey have defended the organization’s decision. Both claim compensation is dependent on the fighter’s skills and the audience they bring in. Furthermore, the chance to make a career in MMA is a leap in and of itself for women.