“American women win World Cup” made soccer fans—and Americans in general—cheer. However, according to a recent posting by AAUW, the pay disparity between male and female professional soccer players may not be something to cheer about.
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In an article by Catherine Kuerbitz on its website, the AAUW (American Association of University Women), an organization that advocates pay equality and against gender discrimination, reports that “expanded opportunities for female athletes have not translated into greater gender equity throughout the professional sports world.”
The AAUW reports that as the popularity of the sport grows, the minimum salary for male players in Major League Soccer (MLS) is now $60,000, up from $36,500 in 2014.
However, the minimum salary for female players in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) is $6,842 with the current cap at $37,800, which, says the article, has forced many players to take second jobs to make ends meet or leave the sport to pursue a full-time career outside of soccer.
Salaries for the U.S. Women’s National Team have been improved with Abby Wambach, the top female goal scorer on record (for women as well as men) earning $190,000 in 2014.
The post-World Cup frenzy will surely increase the popularity of the sport, as well as increase attendance and opportunities for endorsements by women players.
Read the full story from AAUW here.