The U.S. National Soccer Team's Gender Pay Gap

On Thursday, five senior members of the U.S. women’s national soccer team filed a complaint about wage discrimination against the U.S. Soccer Federation with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Alex Morgan, Carli Lloyd, Megan Rapinoe, Becky Sauerbrunn and Hope Solo all say they are paid less than half the amount received by their counterparts on the men's team, despite their superior achievements on the pitch.

The U.S. women’s national team has experienced great success over the past few years, winning three World Cups and an Olympic championship. Its victory in the 2015 World Cup final drew in 26 million viewers - that remains the most-watched U.S. soccer game of all time. Pay per player for an exhibition game stands at o $3,600 for women compared to $5,000 for men, according to data recently published in the New York Times. Women would receive a $75,000 World Cup winning bonus but if the men's team win it, each player would earn a $390,625 bonus