C&L readers know how much we support the USWMT on C&L, so I'm all for the ladies on the pitch to be paid like they should be.
"I think the timing is right,'' Lloyd told Matt Lauer in an exclusive TODAY interview Thursday. "I think that we've proven our worth over the years. Just coming off of a World Cup win, the pay disparity between the men and women is just too large. And we want to continue to fight."
When the USWNT won international soccer's most prestigious event, the World Cup, in 2015, the team earned $2 million in prize money that was given to the national federation to be distributed to the players and the organization. Meanwhile, the men's team, which lost in the World Cup's Round of 16, earned $9 million. The men's team that won the tournament, Germany, earned $35 million.
"I've been through numerous CBA negotiations, and honestly not much has changed,'' Solo said. "We believe now the time is right because we believe it's a responsibility for women's sports, specifically women's soccer, to really do whatever it takes for equal pay and equal rights and to be treated with respect."
The women also shattered ratings records for soccer games in America with a record 26.7 million tuning in to watch them beat Japan in the World Cup final. The women have won three straight Olympic gold medals as well as three World Cup titles overall, while the men have never won either.
ESPN FC with Julie Foudy discusses the issue here.
Both Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton are supporting these incredible athletes.
The time is long overdue for pay equity in this country. I believe that they will win. https://t.co/f7sYev9VFB
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) March 31, 2016
Wouldn’t want to face these women on the field or in the courtroom. Every woman deserves equal pay. https://t.co/RBuAFtgpDS
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) March 31, 2016
