Two-time Women’s World Cup champion Alex Morgan reflected on the equal pay struggle of the U.S. women’s national team (USWNT), sharing the uncertainty they faced during their battle against the U.S. Soccer Federation. Morgan stated that the federation claimed “women are inherently inferior” and that men bear more responsibility.

Morgan was part of a group of five players who filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in 2016, shortly after the USWNT won their first World Cup in over a decade. In 2022, they reached a settlement that ensured equal pay and awarded $22 million in back pay.

In her appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast, Morgan highlighted the disparity in earnings between the men’s and women’s teams, detailing how the men earned significantly higher bonuses than their female counterparts. She noted, “We were getting paid… like per game, $1,500 for a win compared to $12,000 for the men.”

Reflecting on the challenges post-lawsuit, she narrated an incident from a U.S. Soccer board meeting where a member expressed disdain for the women’s team, stating they “disgust me” while receiving applause, showcasing the opposition they faced from within the federation.

Despite the difficulties, the leadership change that followed Cordeiro’s resignation marked a significant turning point. Morgan expressed hope with Cindy Parlow Cone’s leadership, emphasizing the importance of having someone who understood their struggles from within the federation.

With over 500 hours invested in the case, Morgan describes the moment they signed the agreement for equal pay as special, especially while holding her daughter, underscoring the long fight for equality in sports.