they ve won at the olympics, the world cup, and tonight against the inequalities of their own sport. the u.s. women s soccer team scoring a huge victory that will pay them equally to men. emily ikeda tonight on the long battle. [ chanting equal pay ] reporter: tonight u.s. soccer stepping up to close the gender pay gap after years of legal pressure from u.s. women s soccer players. it s what we set out to do, equalize on all fronts. reporter: in a landmark agreement u.s. soccer pledging to pay the women s and men s teams an equal rate, while handin over $22 million in athletes to back pay and another 2 million dollars fo post-career endeavors. settling 28 lawsuits as long as the team s contract is ratified. we not only right the wrongs of the past but set the next generation up for something we only could have dreamed of. reporter: the gender wage gap a
pressure from u.s. women s soccer players. it is really what we set out to do, equalize on all fronts. reporter: in a landmark agreement, u.s. soccer pledging to pay the women s and men s team an equal rate, while handing over $22 million to athletes in backpay and another in $2 million for post-career endeavors and charitable efforts. the deal settling 28 players gender discrimination lawsuit, as long as the team s next contract is ratified. we not only right the wrongs of the past but set the next generation up for something that we can only have dreamed of. reporter: the gender wage gap, a point of contention across the country, where the average woman ends 82 cents for every dollar a man makes. the difference larger in sports. male athletes are paid from 15% to 100% more than their female counterparts. the players and federation admit getting to this day has not been easy. megan rapinoe amongst the first to file a complaint in 2016. efforts escalated after winning their fo