Hope Solo to object to U.S. Soccer equal pay deal
By BERNARD PARENTES
March 1, 2009
WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif.—With the U.S. Open Cup looming, the U.S. Women’s National Team played Thursday at the Home Depot Center and a crowd of 18,958. It was a chance to make a splash with a crowd of one — and with an opponent that played in the Women’s Pro League final last year.
U.S. Soccer announced during the first day of the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup that it would continue its policy of equal pay for the U.S. Women’s National Team players while on duty for both countries.
“I understand and respect our federation’s decision,” said the U.S. Women’s National Team’s coach, Jurgen Klinsmann, shortly before they had to return to Philadelphia. “I hope they won’t be offended or get upset with us for the way we look at it. I understand that the federation’s decision — we’re happy with it — but I hope they understand that we’re just trying to get on with our lives and let us keep on training and preparing for the end goal of the tournament.”
Klinsmann said the U.S. Women’s National Team players weren’t surprised by the news that U.S. Soccer would continue to pay them the same, and it wasn’t necessarily news to them.
“I wish U.S. Soccer wouldn’t have given us this news that there would be an equal pay policy going forward, but it was something that was discussed with them during the Gold Cup,” he said. “All of the players were excited to hear that a new pay scale would be in place going forward