US Women's Soccer Team Takes Another Step Towards Equal Pay. It Can Now Pursue The Lawsuit As A Class Action

The U.S. women¡¯s soccer team who sued the USSF alleging gender discrimination will be able to pursue their claims as a class action. This was the judgement passed by a California court.

This happens two months after the players filed a motion for class certification which sought to include all women in the team over the period of time specified in the lawsuit, along with those originally named.

¡°This is a historic step forward in the struggle to achieve equal pay,¡± said Molly Levinson, a spokeswoman for the players,

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¡°We are so pleased that the Court has recognized USSF¡¯s ongoing discrimination against women players - rejecting USSF¡¯s tired arguments that women must work twice as hard and accept lesser working conditions to get paid the same as men,¡± she added,

U.S. Soccer has not responded as yet.

The governing body has always said that the men¡¯s and women¡¯s teams are paid differently as their collective bargaining agreements are not the same.

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As a result of granting class status, the judge basically put down U.S. Soccer¡¯s claims that many women named earned more than their male counterparts during the same time.

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All 28 members of the U.S. squad sued U.S. Soccer with allegations of gender discrimination.

The players includes the likes of Megan Rapinoe, Carli Lloyd and Alex Morgan. They all said they got less money than their male counterparts despite performing better.

Should this pass, it will be a landmark judgement. In an age where women and men are to viewed in the same light, being paid less due to your gender is unacceptable. This is just not on.

Be as it may, things will not of course change overnight. After all, change cannot happen just out of the blue. When and if it does, it is an occasion to celebrate without a doubt. So let's wait and see how things pan out.

The England women's team is also pushing for equal pay from the FA. If more countries start to push for it, not just in football but in multiple sports, it will be great when it comes to fighting gender bias. After all, it has to start somewhere.

But a class action is a big step. It is another hurdle passed by these women. Mind you, they are not playing the gender card based on being ignored in the past, they are simply demanding the money they deserve, so please let them get their hard-earned cash. It's the least those in power can do.

The countdown has began and the clock is ticking as we wonder what the outcome will be. May the ladies triumph and set a precedent for other nations and sports all over the world. So sit back, relax and let's see how things pan out. Best of luck to these ladies.