Chicago takes center stage in women’s World Cup players’ equal pay fight

WASHINGTON — The only thing blocking players on the superstar United States Women’s National Soccer Team from getting paid the same as — or more than — their male counterparts are the leaders of U.S Soccer Federation, headquartered in a historic mansion at 1801 S. Prairie Ave. in Chicago.

The United States Soccer Federation, whose well-paid executives work a stroll from the Loop, are the employers of both teams, one enormously successful, the other not so much.

Following its fourth World Cup win, the women’s team was honored with a ticker tape parade in New York on Wednesday where the crowd chanted “USA.” And “equal pay.”

U.S. Soccer President Carlos Cordeiro even got some boos.

Seth Wenig/AP Photos

Though a federal lawsuit about the pay dispute is pending before a judge in Los Angeles, the roots of the case are in Chicago.

The women’s team’s lawsuit against the U.S. Soccer Federation alleging gender-based discriminatory employment practices was filed March 8. One of the player’s lead lawyers is Cardelle Spangler, a labor and employment partner at the law firm of Winston & Strawn, based in the Chicago office at 35 W. Wacker Drive.

According to court documents, a group of players including World Cup team co-captains Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe and Becky Sauerbrunn, each filed discrimination charges with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on March 30, 2016. The case was assigned to the Chicago district office at 500 W. Madison St.

A source familiar with the case said the EEOC did do an investigation but didn’t resolve anything. On Feb. 5, 2019, Julianne Bowman, the director of the EEOC’s Chicago district office signed a notice giving the players the right to sue the federation — and weeks later they did.

Two professional soccer players from Chicago, Morgan Brian and Casey Short, are among the women who are part of the lawsuit.

In a reply to the lawsuit, U.S. Soccer said its pay practices “are not based on sex.” Lawyers who have been or are on the federation legal team include Kara Goodwin, Cheryl Luce and Ellen McLaughlin from Seyfarth Shaw, based in the law firm’s Chicago offices at 233 S. Wacker Drive.

During the World Cup tournament — as the revenue being generated by the women’s team became known and public support was growing for their equal pay quest — U.S. Soccer’s position clearly has weakened. With the World Cup over, both sides are expected to start mediation talks, a source told me.

The headquarters of the federation is on a street in Chicago once home to millionaires, in buildings considered Chicago landmarks.

Rich Hein/Sun-Times

The soccer leaders moved their base from Colorado Springs, Colorado, leasing historic mansions on Prairie Avenue in 1991, according to the federation website.

The group took over two buildings built in the late 1800s: the Kimball House at 1801 S. Prairie and the Coleman-Ames home at 1811 S. Prairie, renaming the structures the U.S. Soccer House.

The federation is organized as a tax-exempt nonprofit organization. Internal Revenue Service rules require an annual filing, called a form 990, providing financial information and disclosure of its highest-paid employees.

The pay package for federation CEO Dan Flynn — base compensation, bonus and incentive compensation and nontaxable benefits — totaled $836,517, according to the 2017 form 990, the latest available.

A source told me no female soccer player makes more than $800,000, while male players would have made more than $1 million if they won the World Cup.

Chief Operating Officer Jay Berhalter’s total pay package is $609,271.

And if that’s not enough, Flynn and Berhalter even get their health club fee of $185 a month covered by U.S. Soccer, according to the 990.

Chief Administrative Officer Brian Remedi’s total compensation is $338,845.

Former Chief Financial Officer Eric Gleason had a $222,316 deal.

Legal counsel Lisa Levine’s pay totals $232,434. Another legal counsel, Lydia Wahlke, brings in $211,345.

Rich Hein/Sun-Times

The mission of U.S. Soccer, according to its statement on the 990, is to “promote and govern soccer in the United States in order to make it the preeminent sport recognized for excellence in participation, spectator appeal, international competitions and gender equality.”

The players in their lawsuit said the mission statement was rubbish: “In reality, the USSF has utterly failed to promote gender equality. It has stubbornly refused to treat its female employees who are members of the WNT equally to its male employees who are members of the MNT.”

The federation engaged in “purposeful gender discrimination even during times when the WNT earned more profit, played more games, won more games, earned more championships, and/or garnered higher television audiences,” the lawsuit also states.

Remember, the crowd Wednesday chanted “USA.” And “equal pay.”

It’s up to the folks on Prairie Avenue whether they will cut a deal.