U.S Women's Soccer Files Complaint Against U.S.S.F

On Thursday, the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team announced they have filed an equal pay complaint against the U.S Soccer Federation (USSF), to be paid the same as players on the Men's National Team. Five of the biggest names on the U.S. women’s national soccer team, Carli Lloyd, Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, Becky Sauerbrunn and Hope Solo, filed a complaint on behalf of the entire team against the U.S. Soccer, demanding equal pay for equal work and calling for an investigation into U.S. Soccer’s discriminatory wage practices.

In case you missed it, approximately 26.7 million viewers tuned in to watch the women's team beat Japan in the 2015 World Cup Final. The talented women’s team has won three World Cup titles! The complaint follows the memorable run for the women’s national team, as they hoisted up the gold trophy at the 2015 World Cup, The women’s team earned $2 million total for their historic achievement, but was distributed to members of the organization and the players.

The men’s team has never accomplished gold at a World Cup. In fact, the best finish in men’s national team history is a third place finish in the 1930 World Cup. On Wednesday, March 30, the Men's National Team missed the opportunity to qualify for the 2016 Summer Olympics for the second Olympics in a row.

"I think the timing is right," midfielder Carli Lloyd told Matt Lauer on NBC’s TODAY show. "I think that we've proven our worth over the years. Just coming off of a World Cup win, the pay disparity between the men and women is just too large. And we want to continue to fight."

Standout forward Alex Morgan added, “Every single day we sacrifice just as much as the men. We work just as much …[w]e endure just as much physically and emotionally. Our fans really do appreciate us every day for that. We saw that with the high of last summer. We’re really asking, and demanding now, that our federation, and our employer really, step up and appreciate us as well.”

USA Wins 2015 World Cup (Getty Images)

The women’s team only makes a 1,350 for match, far less than the men and only if they win. Win, loss or draw every player on the men’s team makes $5,000 for every game they play in. The difference in earnings is appalling. If the women win all of their matches in a year of 20 scheduled friendlies and the men’s team played the same amount of games and lost all 20, the men would still make more money than the women. . . Putting this in perspective, the men's team earned $9 million, despite losing in the Round of 16 of the 2014 World Cup.

Again,r for winning the 2015 World Cup, the women’s team earned $2 million.

Jeffrey Kessler, the attorney representing the Women’s National Team Player’s Association (WNTPA) added on Thursday, "...It's not an acceptable answer in 2016."

“In this day and age, it’s about equality,” Solo said. “It’s about equal rights. It’s about equal pay. We’re pushing for that. We believe now the time is right because we believe it’s our responsibility for women’s sports, and specifically for women’s soccer, to do whatever it takes to push for equal pay and equal rights. And to be treated with respect.”

Parade in NYC was first ever for Women's Champions

The U.S. Soccer Federation, says it has yet to receive the complaint. "We're disappointed about this action,'' the organization responded, "We've been a world leader in women's soccer and are proud of the commitment we've made to building the women's game in the United States over the past 30 years."

For the women, the next step will be waiting to hear back from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as it investigates the claims made. If the EEOC sides with the players, they could receive millions in back pay, per The New York Times.

We will keep updating this story as more details emerge, stick with MyWSports for the latest news and information.

Follow Luis Sanchez on Twitter @Luis_MyW