US Women's National Soccer Team

Marseille are reportedly trying to sign United States Women's National Team goalkeeper Hope Solo. 

As Bleacher Report's Andy Brassell relayed, according to L'Equipe, the French club are seeking to make a big impression in a bid to cement their spot in the top flight:

An interesting new strand to Marseille’s rebuild; women’s team, in 2nd top-flight season, trying to sign Hope Solo, according to @lequipe

— Andy Brassell (@andybrassell) June 27, 2017

Solo, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and one-time World Cup winner, is rated as one of the finest goalkeepers of all time and has represented the United States an incredible 202 times.

The 35-year-old hasn't been in action in a competitive game since the quarter-finals of the Rio de Janeiro Olympics last summer. 

Solo picked up a six-month suspension following that game after stating the Sweden players conducted themselves like "a bunch of cowards" in a defensive display, per the Associated Press (h/t the Guardian). In September 2016, the goalkeeper also underwent surgery on a troublesome shoulder.

Solo would be one of a string of high-profile USWNT stars to make the move to European football if this deal was to go ahead.

Alex Morgan joined Lyon on loan from Orlando Pride in January and played a part in the team's UEFA Women's Champions League win. United States skipper Carli Lloyd also made a temporary switch to Manchester City.

Marseille's women's side was promoted to the top flight in 2016, and they enjoyed an excellent debut season at that level, finishing in fourth.

Former United States women's national soccer team coach Tony DiCicco died Monday at the age of 68.     

The news was confirmed by his son, Anthony DiCicco, who released a family statement Tuesday:

https://twitter.com/DiCiccoMethod/status/877182882695000064

The Connecticut-born DiCicco took over as head coach of the USWNT in 1994 and held the post for five years.

He led the side to its first-ever Olympic gold medal at the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta, and his tenure culminated with a win at the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup. With the championship game tied at 0-0 after extra time, the U.S. beat China 5-4 on penalties at the Rose Bowl in California.

Many paid tribute to DiCicco via Twitter, including 1991 and 1999 Women's World Cup winner Julie Foudy, the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and former USMNT defender Alexi Lalas:

Tony was one of the finest to grace this planet. His spirit will indeed live in us all Anthony. I smile thru the tears. His impact, immense. https://t.co/HYIbvwbSrV

— Julie Foudy (@JulieFoudy) June 20, 2017

Tony DiCicco has left a truly indelible legacy for us all. The NSCAA joins the DiCicco family and the soccer community in mourning his loss. https://t.co/41SMbSPX2S

— United Soccer Coaches (@UnitedCoaches) June 20, 2017

American soccer lost a true original. RIP Tony DiCicco. https://t.co/vyFfYhfFBF

— Alexi Lalas (@AlexiLalas) June 20, 2017

DiCicco also led the United States women's team to victory at the 2008 U-20 FIFA Women's World Cup, with Sydney Leroux and Alex Morgan netting in the final against North Korea.     

The United States women's national team will complete their two-match friendly tour of Europe on Sunday, as they face Norway in Sandefjord.

Fresh off a 1-0 win over Sweden, the Stars and Stripes will try to make it four wins in a row ahead of the Tournament of Nations, set to get underway in July on home soil.

Here's everything you need to know about Sunday's clash.

     

Date: Sunday, June 11

Time: 1 p.m. ET/6 p.m. BST

Venue: Komplett Arena, Sandefjord

TV Info: Fox Sports (U.S.)

Live Stream: Fox Soccer 2Go

     

Preview

On the surface, a narrow 1-0 win over Sweden may not seem like much to get excited about. After all, the U.S. are supposed to be the dominant force in women's football, and after the embarrassing showing at the SheBelieves Cup, fans expected a return to form.

But Thursday's win―courtesy of a goal from Rose Lavelle, who made her international debut earlier this year―was the team's first against Sweden since former coach Pia Sundhage took the reins for the Scandinavian nation in 2012.

It also marked the first meeting between the two teams since last year's Summer Olympics. By all accounts, revenge on Swedish soil will have been a momentum-booster for the Stars and Stripes.

Ann Odong of The Women's Game noted there were issues, however, especially on the defensive end:

Positives for Sweden: they've had a LOT of looks at the USA goal

Negatives for Sweden: they've had a LOT of looks at the USA goal #SWEvUSA

— Ann Odong 🐨🇺🇬 (@AnnOdong) June 8, 2017

With the exception of Ali Krieger, most of the team's experienced defenders were called up and traveled to Europe. The U.S. shouldn't give up this many chances to any team, whether they're as talented as Sweden or not.

Norway's squad features plenty of veteran talent, with the 37-year-old Ingrid Hjelmseth the most senior member. Ada Hegerberg is the team's star player and leading scorer, a remarkable achievement given she's just 21.

The hosts should provide the Stars and Stripes with another stern test, and the U.S. defence will have the opportunity to show improvements against some class competition. If they can shut out Norway, it should provide another major confidence boost.

The U.S. women's national team will open its friendly tour of Europe on Thursday with a match against Sweden, the first of two games in preparation of the upcoming Tournament of Nations.

It should be a good test for the Stars and Stripes, who have lost two of their last four matches. The Swedes have improved in recent years, although their form hasn't been great of late.

Here's everything you need to know about the upcoming match.

     

Date: Thursday, June 8

Time: 1:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. BST

Venue: Gamla Ullevi, Gothenburg

TV Info: ESPN 2 (U.S.)

Live Stream: WatchESPN

     

Preview

Thursday's meeting between the two teams will be the first since the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games, where the Swedes defeated the Americans in the knockout stages on their way to a silver medal.

The Stars and Stripes have traveled to Europe with plenty of fresh faces and without goalkeeper Hope Solo, who was between the sticks for that fateful match. There are only two designated goalkeepers in the squad: Alyssa Naeher and Abby Smith.

While there's plenty of experience up and down the squad, thanks to the likes of Carli Lloyd and Becky Sauerbrunn, fans will likely keep an eye on some of the emerging talents.

Mallory Pugh is the youngest member of the squad and already looks like a future star. Per the team's official Twitter account, the 19-year-old keeps finding success:

.@MalPugh scored her first #NWSL goal this weekend! We've got 🔥 highlights from up and down the #USWNT roster!

⏪: https://t.co/PpI4j28IyP pic.twitter.com/OKaj1Rhn7D

— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) June 6, 2017

The Stars and Stripes have yet to beat Sweden since Pia Sundhage took over as manager in December 2012, a run of four matches.

Under Sundhage, discipline and organisation have been key for the Nordic side, who tend to rely on physical strength and individual brilliance to score their goals.

Kosovare Asllani will be one to keep an eye on―the Manchester City star can do plenty of damage with her movement in the attacking third, creating openings for her team-mates.

The Stars and Stripes should field a strong XI for this first friendly of the tour, with some of the lesser-known players expected to see the pitch in the second match against Norway.

A side containing the likes of Lloyd, Christen Press and Megan Rapinoe should have the quality to break down any defence and end Sweden's run of solid results against the American team.

Former United States women's national team star Abby Wambach married Glennon Doyle Melton over the weekend, the Daily Mail reported Monday. 

Wambach shared two photos on Instagram Sunday commemorating the occasion:

Melton also posted a photo to her Instagram account: 

Melton has built a large following through her blog, Momastery, and her memoir, Love Warrior, was a New York Times bestseller.

Melton and Wambach announced in February they were engaged. Melton had divorced her husband three months prior, and Wambach had ended her marriage to wife Sarah Huffman two months before the engagement.

Wambach officially retired from USWNT duty in the team's 1-0 defeat to China last December. She left the national team having scored more goals (184) than any other U.S. international. The 36-year-old helped the United States win gold medals at the 2004 and 2012 Summer Olympics and was a part of the World Cup-winning squad in 2015.

All eyes last weekend were on Manchester City as they made their UEFA Women's Champions League semi-finals debut in a match against current title holders Olympique Lyonnais.

Despite an abundance of talent, numerous internationals on the field and high stakes, two names dominated the build-up. Both of them FIFA World Cup winners. Both of them American.

Alex Morgan (Lyon) and Carli Lloyd (Manchester City) each made high-profile moves to Europe over the winter. Both had the world of women's soccer talking, yet their approaches to joining their new clubs couldn't have been more different.

For the social-media savvy, Lyon President Jean-Michel Aulas' public pursuit of Morgan was clear.

"You can play in the best team in Europe with Olympique Lyonnais in the nicest stadium," one message aimed at Morgan on Twitter said. "The best women's team in Europe is Olympique Lyonnais," another tweet directed at her said. In truth, it was all for publicity and attention, as work to sign her was already in motion behind the scenes. Her move was announced not long before Christmas.

Compare that to the move of Lloyd, and the two U.S. gold medalists couldn't be more different. A trip to England over Christmas turned into an impromptu visit to Manchester after the World Player of the Year received an email from the club asking if she would be interested in stopping in.

Communication was ongoing after the meeting, but it wasn't until a few days before the move was made public that a contract had been signed.

Fast-forward to where we are now, in between two matches featuring the U.S stars in the Champions League semi-finals, and it's fair to say their short stints in Europe are representative of their respective moves.

The French champions, with a plethora of stars to select from to market the club, have a YouTube series, Rendez-Vous with Alex Morgan, which follows the U.S. star around the city as she absorbs what delights it has to offer. Lloyd, on the other hand, has had only a few club commitments—such as a fan signing session—and hasn't been overly exposed to the media since her move to England.

That's not a criticism of Morgan. She will have known what she was letting herself in for when joining the French giants, while they knew exactly what they wanted out of her. Despite her unquestionable status as a world-class striker, Lyon also saw the value Morgan's move would bring, attracting attention to the club from a global audience. Who can blame them?

City, meanwhile, a side that was only formed in 2013 after relaunching the club formerly operated as Manchester City "Ladies," saw Lloyd not only as a player that would help them attract other talent, but also as someone who could take them to the next level herself.

Unlike Lyon, who have won every club competition available to them, City are still attempting to make their mark among Europe's elite. They won their first league title last year and will make their first appearance at the iconic Wembley Stadium on May 13 in their first Women's FA Cup Final.

This will, of course, present Lloyd with the opportunity to stroll out onto the field where she achieved one of the greatest accolades of her career: Olympic gold. The U.S. captain scored twice in the final at London 2012 in a 2-1 win over Japan, winning her second Olympic gold and helping Morgan to win her first.

"We have a lot of things on our radar between now and then, but I'm really looking forward to Wembley," Lloyd told Bleacher Report. "It's going to be a special trip."

Morgan herself will have a cup showpiece to look forward to with Lyon, as they have qualified for the Coupe de France final, where they will face fierce rivals Paris Saint-Germain. The U.S. forward scored four times in the semi-final win over Henin-Beaumont—a game her side won 10-0.

Coming into their UEFA Champions League semi-final this week, both Lloyd and Morgan have clearly had a positive influence on their respective clubs, with Lloyd able to take up her familiar attacking-midfield position while Morgan has had to adapt to multiple roles, including some time on the bench.

Lloyd, who made her debut for City in the Women's FA Cup last-16 match against Reading Women, was thrown straight into the starting XI despite little training time with her teammates and helped her side defeat their divisional rivals to progress to the last eight.

Days later, she started again in Denmark in the Champions League quarter-final away at Fortuna Hjorring. Lloyd's ability to pop up with big goals in big games showed early on in her City career, as she grabbed the winner with a first-half header. City won the return leg by the same scoreline, progressing to the semi-final.

Meanwhile, Morgan had her own quarter-final challenge, helping her side win 2-0 in the first leg away in Germany against two-time Champions League winners Wolfsburg.

Viewers in the stadium and watching on TV saw Morgan play a different role wide on the left of a front three. In this position, she was not only responsible for trying to score those all-important away goals, but she also had defensive duties to stop German outside back Anna Blasse, a role she admitted was "something I'm not used to."

Morgan again played wide-left in the second leg at the impressive Parc Olympique Lyonnais, and despite a 1-0 loss, Lyon progressed to the semi-final for the showdown with Carli Lloyd's City. Once again, she shouldered attacking and defensive duties and was praised for her commitment and teamwork.

The first leg in Manchester was the first meeting in history between City and Lyon.

Without question, this was a step up in opposition for City, who have dominated English football for the last year but had never faced a team with the class from back to front of Lyon.

For the French club, it was a different challenge, with well-known players such as Lloyd and England captain Steph Houghton likely on their radar, but with some youngsters in the mix who may not be so well known to them.

Lloyd surely wanted to make a positive impact early in the game, but after giving away a penalty in the opening minute, that storyline was absent from the script.

Japan's Saki Kumagai, who scored the winning penalty in the World Cup final in 2011 and last year's Champions League Final, coolly tucked the penalty goal away and provided the perfect start for Morgan—and a disastrous one for Lloyd.

In truth, both Americans were quiet in the game. Morgan, starting alongside UEFA Player of the Year Ada Hegerberg, was well-marshalled by the City defense, creating one clear-cut chance in 50 minutes that City keeper Karen Bardsley did well to save. Four minutes later, Morgan was replaced by France international Eugenie Le Sommer, who went on to score the killer third away goal for Lyon.

For City, Lloyd was forced to admire the skill and influence of Germany captain Dzsenifer Marozsan, who was excellent for the French club. The visitors dominated possession throughout the tie, which prevented Lloyd from influencing the game as much as she had done previously in the Champions League and FA Cup.

The 3-1 scoreline was a fair reflection of the game, with Lyon's experience in the competition shining through.

Despite three away goals and a two-goal deficit, Lloyd is not ruling out her team's chances.

"Overall we got a bit more comfortable as the game went on," she said. "But it's still half-time, so we have our work to do next weekend, and we're still in it.

"I think we shouldn't respect them as much, they are a great opponent, but we are a great team as well. We have got to go out there a little bit more hungry and on the front foot. We need to be confident in what we can bring."

Lloyd is almost certain to start this Saturday at the Parc OL, having played every minute of every game (450 minutes) since making her debut in March.

For Morgan, with Le Sommer and Hegerberg for competition, she could start with one of them in a front two, similar to that in Manchester in a front three (which was the case against Wolfsburg) or possibly even on the bench.

It goes without saying that once again, the pair will be the focal point of the matchup, which highlights the positive impact both have made during their short time in Europe. Interest in the UEFA Women's Champions League is always strong, but Lloyd and Morgan have taken it up a notch, not just for fans in England and France, but across Europe and, of course, in the U.S.

This isn't the first time members of the U.S. Women's National Team have played in the competition, with Whitney Engen, Meghan Klingenberg, Christen Press and Megan Rapinoe all gracing the Champions League Final in the last four years. But with City's global profile and Lyon's continuing dominance of European football, the match has generated huge interest thanks in part to the Lloyd versus Morgan subplot.

The European game is growing, and don't be surprised to see more U.S. stars potentially head over. Crystal Dunn will get her first taste of European football in the autumn when Chelsea Ladies enter the 2017/18 Champions League, while Heather O'Reilly, now retired from international soccer, will be looking to help Arsenal Ladies qualify for the 2018/19 competition.

But that's the future. Until then, Lloyd and Morgan will continue to be the sport's focus. Come Saturday afternoon, one of them will be celebrating a victory, a final in Cardiff and a new addition to her legacy.

The United States Women's national team won a second international friendly against Russia on Sunday, cruising to a 5-1 victory in Houston.

Carli Lloyd, Rose Lavelle and Crystal Dunn all scored for the hosts before half-time, while the Russians also added an own-goal. Nadezhda Karpova converted from the penalty spot to give the visitors a fighting chance, but the USA did more damage after the break.

Dunn added a second goal before a host of substitutions took all of the momentum out of the match. The Stars and Stripes had already beaten Russia in Texas on Thursday.

Ashlyn Harris came into the team for the United States, as shared by the squad's official Twitter account:

Who's ready for seconds? The #USWNT is back for another match vs. Russia. Presenting our Starting XI!

Lineup notes: https://t.co/Uoi8rTNIeL pic.twitter.com/aiJpJju2as

— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) April 9, 2017

Elena Danilova started in a wide role for Russia, who converted to a 4-5-1 formation to better deal with the American crosses. All of the team's goals in the 4-0 win in the previous match were scored via headers.

The Stars and Stripes easily dominated Russia in their first friendly, and things weren't expected to be any different in Houston. But the visitors deployed a smart game plan to start the match, playing a high defensive line that saw the American forwards get caught offside time and time again.

Chances were limited to start the match, but the first opening the Stars and Stripes got resulted in a goal. Dunn earned a questionable penalty and Lloyd easily converted for the lead.

Per ESPN Stats & Info, the midfielder is quickly closing in on a remarkable achievement:

Carli Lloyd converts a penalty to give @ussoccer_wnt a 1-0 lead over Russia.

She is now 3 goals shy of becoming the 6th American to 100.

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 9, 2017

Russia had done a great job of keeping things close up until that point, but the opening goal opened the floodgates. Lavelle bagged her first ever goal for the Stars and Stripes to double the lead, and just a minute later, Dunn turned home a cross to make it 3-0.

Per ESPN FC's Paul Carr, Dunn is quickly shooting up the team's scoring charts:

Crystal Dunn's goal was her 21st international goal, tying @alywagner for 25th in #USWNT history.

— Paul Carr (@PaulCarr) April 9, 2017

Here's a look at that goal:

This proved to be a sign of things to come 🔮@crysdunn_19 taps in the cross from @meghankling for her first goal of the afternoon! pic.twitter.com/y7Nzl4TSAb

— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) April 9, 2017

Russia shocked the fans in Houston by pulling a goal back shortly before half-time, and again, it came as a result of questionable officiating. Casey Short gave away a penalty that should have never been called, and Karpova smashed the ball down the middle and past Harris.

The USA would regain their three-goal lead ahead of half-time, however, as a corner kick bounced off Kseniya Kovalenko's leg and into the net for an own-goal.

During half-time, sports writer Corey Roepken shared some advice for the fans:

For $275 fans today could upgrade their ticket to attend the post-game press conference. Press conferences are not that great. I promise.

— Corey Roepken (@RipSports) April 9, 2017

Russia couldn't turn the tide in the second half, as Dunn added a second goal to her tally after just a few minutes. 

That was the signal for a number of substitutions, with Alex Morgan, Megan Oyster and Christen Press all entering the fray. Morgan had an early chance to add to the tally after a mistake from the Russian goalkeeper, but she seemed so shocked at receiving the chance that she hesitated for too long.

More substitutions followed, and the level of play dropped dramatically as a result. Chances became very rare, and Russia were happy to sit back and limit the damage.

The Stars and Stripes will take to the pitch again in June, when they face Sweden and Norway in friendlies in Scandinavia.

The United States are seeking back-to-back friendly wins over Russia when they play host to head coach Elena Fomina's side again on Sunday, having already beaten the Europeans 4-0 on Friday.

Crystal Dunn and Allie Long each scored braces to seal a comprehensive win over Russia at the Toyota Stadium in Texas, but the wounded party will be looking to restore some dignity for the rematch in Houston this weekend.

United States head coach Jill Ellis will have undoubtedly been pleased to see her outfit bounce back from successive defeats to England and France at the She Believes Cup in March, while Russia have now lost their last four games in a row.

Russia have every reason to seek redemption, too, as they continue their preparation for this summer's UEFA Women's Championship in July, putting the Stars and Stripes on alert in terms of the competition they can expect.

Read on for a preview of Sunday's showdown at the BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas, complete with viewing information and fixture details.

Date: Sunday, April 9

Time: 7 p.m. BST/2 p.m. ET

Venue: BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston, Texas

Live Stream: Watch ESPN (U.S.)

TV Info: ESPN (U.S.)

United States	Russia
United States 4-0 Russia	United States 4-0 Russia
United States 0-3 France	Sweden 4-0 Russia
United States 0-1 England	Russia 1-6 Denmark
United States 1-0 Germany	Russia 1-2 Canada
United States 5-0 Romania	Portugal 0-1 Russia

United States Out for Russian Repeat

Having suffered just one defeat over the course of 2016, Ellis' United States team had plenty to expect of what 2017 might yield, but back-to-back losses at the She Believes Cup last month gave the team a startling pull back to reality.

A run of seven wins in succession was brought to an end in almighty style as the US women's national team failed to score once against England or France before restoring some confidence against Russia on Friday.

In a display of what the Americans can produce at their flying best, Dunn and Long's braces topped off a clean victory for the United States, who dispatched the Russians without much sign of a fightback:

✌️ from @crysdunn_19, ✌️ from @ALLIE_LONG.

Relive every moment from Round 1 of #USAvRUS in Texas. pic.twitter.com/iCLJgFy4Kv

— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) April 7, 2017

It helped the hosts' case that star Russian midfielder Elena Morozova was taken off with injury after just 16 minutes, and it's unclear as of yet as to whether she'll play any part in the repeat at BBVA Compass Stadium.

Due to the friendly circumstance of the fixture, Ellis could opt to rest some key faces in what's a much more important outing for Russia, but even the United States' backup players should be looking to impress against a side ranked 25th in the world.

Rose Lavelle Leading Shooting Starlets

Two years remain until the United States will be in the late stages of their preparation for the 2019 Women's World Cup in France, and blooding new youth comes part and parcel of boosting their tournament chances.

With that in mind, it was encouraging for Stars and Stripes fans to see Boston Breakers starlet Rose Lavelle, 21, leading the charge against Russia on Friday with some impressive darting runs forward:

💃😱 @RoseLavelle is a cheat code pic.twitter.com/2HbY7EpZiS

— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) April 7, 2017

Lavelle wasn't the only youngster handed her chance in Frisco, either, as Mallory Pugh, 18, also started against the Russians, although John D. Halloran of American Soccer Now pointed out she wasn't as reliable:

This game makes me wonder what might happen if #USWNT handed the keys to the offense in the No. 10 spot to Mallory Pugh.

— John D. Halloran (@JohnDHalloran) March 25, 2017

Aside from that duo, Ellis also has 16-year-old forward Sophia Smith among her ranks, while 17-year-old midfielder Jaelin Howell—also of Real Colorado—is seeking her first cap for the senior side.

Some of those prospects may make an appearance against Russia this Sunday if the result looks certain, and any one of those involved could be eyeing a World Cup spot in the very near future if their progress maintains current trajectory.

The U.S. Women's National team will look to maintain a perfect record against Russia when the two teams meet on Thursday at the Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.

It's the first of two friendlies the USWNT will play against Russia in the space of a few days. The two teams will also meet at Houston's BBVA Compass Stadium on Sunday night.

Here are the schedule and streaming details for the first of these matches:

Date: Thursday, April 6

Time: 7 p.m. CT.

Live Stream: Fox Soccer 2Go.

Preview

Head coach Jill Ellis has named a star-studded roster for this friendly. The group includes Alex Morgan and Christen Press in attack, while Carli Lloyd will feature in midfield.

Lloyd remains the heartbeat of this team and one of the sport's true stars even at 34. She joined Manchester City in February to earn a shot at the Champions League.

Lloyd is playing some of the best football of her career. Her energy and technique play a vital role in keeping the supply consistent to Morgan and Press.

The latter's pace could easily overwhelm Russia during the early stages. Press has a prolific recent history against Russia, scoring three times during a 7-0 and an 8-0 win back in February 2014, per the U.S. Soccer official website.

However, it is Morgan who will enter this friendly in fine form. The Lyon attacker netted a hat-trick last month to help her side advance in the Coupe de France Feminine.

Morgan has also helped Lyon reach the last four in the Champions League. Ironically, she will meet Lloyd and City in the semi-final.

The Lloyd, Morgan and Press trio should prove too much for a Russia side likely to be partly focused on the upcoming 2017 UEFA Women's Euro Championship. Even so, tricky forward Elena Danilova is a player who could help the visitors shock their decorated hosts.

However, an upset seems like a major long shot as long as the U.S. has so much elite talent available. Expect another comfortable win for Ellis' squad against a team they usually find the net against for fun.

The United States women's national team and U.S. Soccer have settled on a new five-year collective bargaining agreement after a lengthy labor dispute, according to Andrew Das of the New York Times.

"I am incredibly proud of this team and the commitment we have shown through this entire process," midfielder Megan Rapinoe said. "While I think there is still much progress to be made for us and for women more broadly, I think the [Women's National Team Players Association] should be very proud of this deal and feel empowered moving forward."

The new agreement includes a large increase to both base pay and bonuses, which is expected to double the income of some USWNT players to between $200,000 and $300,000 per year. 

Additionally, "The union also won control of some licensing and marketing rights from the federation, another potential source of revenue for the players," noted Das. And U.S. Soccer, as a part of the agreement, made a number of financial commitments to the National Women's Soccer League. 

While the new pact still does not represent equal pay with the men's national team—the cornerstone issue of the labor dispute that even resulted in Hope Solo, Carli Lloyd, Becky Sauerbrunn, Alex Morgan and Rapinoe's filing a federal wage discrimination complaint against U.S. Soccer in March 2016—it was a step forward in the WNTPA's shift late in negotiations to obtain "equitable and fair" pay.

"We tried to completely change the methodology for how to define our value, and we made progress in that regard, and it changes the equation for the future," Becca Roux, the union's executive director, said of the agreement, according to Das.

The USWNT remains arguably the most successful women's program in the world and has claimed three World Cup titles (1991, 1999, 2015) and four gold medals (1996, 2004, 2008, 2012).

              

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