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
team scored big. the settlement finally reached in a battle that has dragged on for years. not only where the athletes share millions, u.s. soccer has agreed to level the playing field between the men s and women s teams going forward. nbc news correspondent and qatar has the report. tonight, u.s. soccer stepping up to close the gender pay gap after years of pressure from the u.s. women s soccer players. it s what we wanted to do. equal-ism all fronts. and a landmark agreement, u.s. soccer pledging to pay the women s and men s teams equal rights, while handing over $22 million to athletes and back pay, and another 2 million for post-career endeavors and charitable efforts. the deal said laying 28 players
jesse: you know what? don t write that one down, harold. a big day for women in sports and hopefully every other sector announced today that the u.s. women s soccer team reached amy agreement with the u.s. soccer federation to settle six year disagreement around equal pay for u.s. women s soccer players. the u.s. soccer decided to pay a total of $24 million and provide promise equal pay with the men s team going forward. thank you to this team and brave young women for paving my daughter and young girls around america. congratulations. pete: i want to share a bucket list item at daytona 500 i always wanted to drive a nascar on the nascar track thanks to the nascar racing experience i did it show your license, watch a video for 25 minutes and then strap you into a car. get above 150 miles per hour by myself got to go 150 miles per hour. international speedway by my life. i have never been so scared
pay gap after years of pressure from the u.s. women s soccer players. it s what we wanted to do. equal-ism all fronts. and a landmark agreement, u.s. soccer pledging to pay the women s and men s teams equal rights, while handing over $22 million to athletes and back pay, and another 2 million for post-career endeavors and charitable efforts. the deal said laying 28 players as gender discrimination lawsuits as long as the team s next contract is ratified. we have not only rioted the wrongs of the past but set up the next generation for something we can only hope for. the average woman earns 82 cents for every dollar a man makes. the defense even larger even sports, male athletes are paid anywhere from 15 to 100% more than their female counterparts. the getting to this day has not been easy. team, ford rapinoe, among the first to file a complaint in 2016.
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