Equal Pay Appeal By Us Womens National Soccer Team Players Set For March 7
SAN FRANCISCO Oral arguments in the appeal by players on the U.S. womens national soccer team who are seeking equal pay have been scheduled for March.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said Sunday the hearing will take place at 9:30 a.m. on March 7 in Pasadena, California. Under circuit court procedures, the identities of the three judges on the panel will be released publicly on Feb. 28.
We hope 2022 will be the year of peace and health and equal pay. We look forward to these oral arguments, players spokeswoman Molly Levinson said in a statement.
Players led by Alex Morgan sued the U.S. Soccer Federation in March 2019, contending they have not been paid equitably under their collective bargaining agreement compared with what the mens team receives under its agreement, which expired in December 2018. The women asked for more than $64 million in damages plus $3 million in interest under the Equal Pay Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner in Los Angeles granted a summary judgment to the federation on the pay claim in May 2020. The judge ruled the women rejected a pay-to-play structure similar to the one in the mens agreement with the USSF and accepted greater base salaries and benefits than the men. He allowed their allegation of discriminatory working conditions to go to trial, and the sides reached a settlement on that portion.
National Women’s Soccer League
In November 2012, the Red Stars co-founded and was one of the original eight teams in a yet-to-be-named women’s professional soccer league in concert with United States Soccer Federation, the Canadian Soccer Association, and the Mexican Football Federation. The league began competition in spring 2013.
All NWSL teams received an allocation of USWNT players, and the Red Stars received Shannon Boxx, Amy LePeilbet, and Keelin Winters only Boxx had limited playing time that season. The Red Stars began the season with two draws and four losses. The mid-season arrival of Germans Sonja Fuss and Inka Grings revived the team somewhat, but not enough to qualify for the playoffs. The Red Stars played 22 matches with eight wins, six draws, and eight losses to finish the season in sixth place.
The team ended the regular season in third place, and advanced to the playoffs. They played the semi-final at Boyds, Maryland against the Washington Spirit on September 30, losing 21. The Red Stars returned to Toyota Park for home games for the first time since their 2010 WPS season.
Women’s Premier Soccer League Season
The Red Stars joined the Women’s Premier Soccer League in 2011. They played their home games at Village of Lisle-Benedictine University Sports Complex, in west-suburban Chicago.
The roster consisted of players from the women’s national team U-20 and U-23 pools and collegiate players. The first players announced included three with WPS experience, including two from the Red Stars’ 2010 squad. The team was coached by Chicago native Rory Dames, and continued their activity in the Chicago soccer community through their soccer camps.
The Red Stars finished the regular season with a 101 record, hosting the playoff semifinals and championship matches. Defeating Tampa Bay Hellenic 21 in their semifinal, they lost in overtime by the same score in the final to the Orange County Waves .
Read Also: Pay Tollway Online Chicago
Washington Spirit Defeats Chicago Red Stars To Win First National Womens Soccer League Title
LOUISVILLE The Washington Spirit had absorbed waves of adversity over three trying months to not only salvage its National Womens Soccer League season but make an implausible run to the championship game.
And on Saturday, facing another tall task after falling behind just before halftime, the Spirit culminated an extraordinary display of courage and resilience to defeat the Chicago Red Stars, 2-1, in extra time for the first title in its eight-year existence.
Since the season began to crumble in August, marred by allegations against its outgoing coach, ownership turmoil, a league investigation and two forfeits, Washington did not lose on the field .
Under the supervision of interim coach Kris Ward, the Spirit won its playoff opener against North Carolina in extra time and came from behind to upset OL Reign in last weekends semifinals.
The drive reached the pinnacle here before an announced 10,360 at Lynn Family Stadium. Washington took the lead on Kelley OHaras header in the 97th minute before turning to game MVP Aubrey Bledsoe for a stunning save in the waning moments.
People have no idea what weve all gone through, and the resiliency and perseverance of every single player is pretty incredible, OHara, a longtime U.S. national team defender, said after her first goal of the year. Its something I havent seen from an NWSL team Ive been on. Its the best feeling ever to be ending on a win and being champions.
The Worlds Game In Chicago
On the international front, the city of Chicago first hosted the U.S. Mens National Team in a 1-0 defeat to Poland at iconic Soldier Field in August 1973. Though Chicago didnt welcome the national team again for some time, it would be named as a host city for World Cup 94, when FIFA awarded the hosting rights to the United States on July 4, 1988. Three years later, the lead up to Soldier Field hosting five tournament games, including the World Cups opening match, the U.S. Soccer Federation relocated its headquarters within earshot of Soldier Field at 1801 South Prairie Avenue. After proving itself one of the best host cities at World Cup 94, Chicago also welcomed the 1999 FIFA Womens World Cup, where it hosted four matches, including the U.S. Womens 7-1 triumph against Nigeria in the group stage.
In total, the Chicago area has played host to a combined 26 U.S. Mens and Womens National Team matches, including World Cups, World Cup Qualifying, CONCACAF Gold Cup and coming in 2016, will welcome the historic Copa America Centenario to Soldier Field. The Mexican National Team has also been a frequent visitor to the city over the years, while highly regarded international clubs such as Manchester United, FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Liverpool FC, Chivas de Guadalajara and Club America have all graced the shores of Lake Michigan.
You May Like: Taste Of Chicago 2022
Chicago Women’s Soccer Roster
| No. | |
|---|---|
| Hometown/High School: New Canaan, Conn. / New Canaan | |
| No.: 0 | Hometown/High School: West Bloomfield, Mich. / West Bloomfield |
| No.: 1 | Hometown/High School: Cary, Ill. / Cary-Grove |
| No.: 2 | Hometown/High School: Manhattan Beach, Calif. / Mira Costa |
| No.: 3 | Hometown/High School: Scottsdale, Ariz. / Seton Catholic Prep |
| No.: 4 | Hometown/High School: Crete, Ill. / Crete-Monee |
| No.: 5 | Hometown/High School: Sammamish, Wash. / Eastlake |
| No.: 6 | Hometown/High School: Cary, N.C. / Cary Academy |
| No.: 7 | Hometown/High School: Louisville, Ky. / Kentucky Country Day |
| No.: 8 | Hometown/High School: Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. / Bolles |
| No.: 9 | Hometown/High School: Upper Arlington, Ohio / Upper Arlington |
| No.: 10 | Hometown/High School: Los Altos, Calif. / St. Francis |
| No.: 11 | Hometown/High School: Ridgefield, Conn. / Ridgefield |
| No.: 12 | Hometown/High School: Tampa, Fla. / Henry B. Plant |
| No.: 13 | Hometown/High School: Wyoming, Ohio / Wyoming |
| No.: 14 | Hometown/High School: Duxbury, Mass. / Phillips Academy Andover |
| No.: 15 | Hometown/High School: Castle Pines, Colo. / Rock Canyon |
| No.: 16 | Hometown/High School: Nashville, Tenn. / University School of Nashville |
| No.: 17 |
Women’s Premier Soccer League Elite Season
In 2012, the Red Stars joined the former WPS Boston Breakers and Western New York Flash to found the WPSL Elite League. Five other former WPSL teams joined the league: ASA Chesapeake Charge, F.C. Indiana, New England Mutiny, New York Fury, and Philadelphia Fever.
The Red Stars finished fourth in the league, making the playoffs. They advanced to the final, where they lost to the Flash in a 24 penalty shootout after a 11 draw at the end of extra time. Red Stars Ella Masar and Lori Chalupny were injured on the same play in the 33rd minute. WNY scored the equalizer in regulation with a 40-yard goal in the 97th minute to reach overtime. The Red Stars won the 2012 National Women’s Cup with half their roster, since the cup final was played at the same time as their final WPSL Elite regular-season match against the eventual third-place New York Fury.
Don’t Miss: When Does The Taste Of Chicago End
Wins Downcountless To Go
The WNT reached its 500th win in program history when it defeated Portugal, 1-0, on Nov. 8, 2018. Not only did it mark an incredible milestone in the sporting world, it put the exclamation point on their undefeated 2018 season. Take a closer look at the impressive statistics across the 33-year journey that lead to this momentan achievement that further cements the WNT as one of the most dominant squads in the history of sport, men or women.