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USWNT players: Hope Solo’s objection to equal pay deal ‘lacks any merit’

(Joern Pollex/FIFA via Getty Images)

Former U.S. women’s national team goalkeeper Hope Solo took issue with the landmark equal pay settlement her teammates reached with the U.S. Soccer Federation earlier this year.

Her USWNT teammates are pushing back, saying in a new court filing obtained by The Athletic’s Meg Linehan that Solo objected “on grounds that lack any merit.”

In 2019, a group of 28 USWNT players, including Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe, filed a gender discrimination lawsuit against U.S. Soccer. Those players reached a proposed $24 million settlement in February, with a final approval hearing set for Dec. 5.

Solo filed an objection to the settlement in October.

“Without knowing how much each player … will be paid, or when we will get paid, it’s impossible for players to determine whether or not the proposed settlement and whatever payment we each receive is fair, adequate or reasonable,” she said in a statement.

A new court filing submitted Tuesday by the USWNT players responded to Solo’s complaints, particularly that she did not know how much money she would receive from the settlement.

“That information was always going to be provided,” the filing reads, “and she has been informed that her expected pro rata allocation of the settlement fund is $339,999 after attorneys’ fees and costs.”

Solo filed a separate lawsuit against U.S. Soccer in August 2018 for violating the federal Equal Pay Act. That case has not yet gone to trial, and the USWNT players make clear in the new filing that the structure of their settlement specifically allows for Solo to continue her individual legal claim.

U.S. Soccer already has paid the first $5.5 million of the settlement into an account set up for that purpose, Linehan reported. The court filing also includes proposed amounts for every player who is part of the settlement.

As Season Tip-Off Approaches, WNBA Roster Cuts Come Down to the Wire

rookie kate martin at wnba training camp with the las vegas aces
A top-notch rookie class means tough decisions for WNBA teams faced with finalizing 12-player rosters. (Ian Maule/NBAE via Getty Images)

Teams around the WNBA are under pressure to finalize their 12-player rosters before Monday's league-enforced deadline.

Teams must cut their 2024 rosters down to just 12 spots from as many as 18 training camp players. And while this year’s WNBA draft class is undoubtedly rife with talent, only 18 draftees remain rostered ahead of Monday's final cuts. Last year, just 15 of the league’s 36 draftees made it onto their team’s opening-day squad. 

And it's not just rookies. Veteran players are also on the chopping block, even former title-winners: On Thursday, the Minnesota Lynx waived 2021 WNBA champ Ruthy Hebard.

But with every wave of cuts, players that survive dismissal inch closer to claiming a coveted roster spot. The Las Vegas Aces have already reached that magic number 12, opening the door for draft picks Dyaisha Fair and Kate Martin to stay on with the reigning champs.

Additionally, Dallas has whittled their training camp group down to 12. Fifth overall pick Jacy Sheldon and undrafted rookie Jaelyn Brown continue to remain in the mix. 

Other teams, meanwhile, still have decisions to make. Seattle currently lists 13 players, while others like New York still have a full 18 players in training camp. It’s likely that the final preseason game will tip roster decisions one way or another as coaching staffs continue to evaluate performance and playing time. 

But being cut doesn't mean the end of the road for everyone. Should players be waived, they can still be signed to short-term hardship contracts with teams carrying injured players on their permanent rosters. 

The 2024 WNBA season kicks off on Tuesday, May 14th.

Angelina, Morgan Weaver Avoid Season-Ending Injuries

nwsl Portland Thorns forward Morgan Weaver
Portland Thorns forward Morgan Weaver has been cleared of season-ending injury concerns. (Troy Wayrynen/USA TODAY Sports)

Two NWSL teams avoided some major setbacks on Thursday, as both Portland’s Morgan Weaver and Orlando’s Angelina were cleared of season-ending injuries after undergoing scope procedures earlier this week. 

Angelina has been described by her club as "week-to-week," while Weaver has been placed on Portland’s 45-day injury list. 

The Thorns won their May 4th game without Weaver 2-1, continuing their season turnaround, while the Pride remain one of two unbeaten teams in the NWSL.

In other injury list news, Christen Press posted a video on Thursday of her running with a trainer and doing drills, providing further updates on her road back from a June 2022 ACL tear.

Angel City coach Becki Tweed has told reporters that Press is back with the team, but has not issued a timetable for her return to the field.

New WNBA Team Reportedly Coming to Toronto in 2026

wnba 2023 canada exhibition game in toronto
After seeing huge success with preseason games in Canada, the WNBA is setting its sights north of the border. (Jordan Jones/NBAE via Getty Images)

A group led by Toronto billionaire Larry Tanenbaum will bring a new WNBA franchise to Canada, CBC Sports reported early this morning. 

Set to begin play in 2026, the team will be owned and operated by Tanenbaum's Kilmer Sports Inc. Tanenbaum is a minority owner and chairman of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Toronto Maple Leafs, Raptors, Toronto FC, Argos, and Marlies. He originally explored an expansion team via MLSE, but was turned down by other members of the board. 

The Toronto addition will be the WNBA's 14th team. It follows the Bay Area's WNBA Golden State, which will debut in 2025. 

An official announcement is expected May 23rd in Toronto, according to reports. 

"We continue to engage in productive conversations with interested ownership groups in a number of markets but have no news to report at this time," a WNBA spokesperson said in a statement. Tanenbaum's Kilmer Sports group, meanwhile, told CBC Sports that his organization has “no update at this time.”

In April, commissioner Cathy Engelbert said that Toronto was among the cities being considered for WNBA expansion.

The WNBA has a growing footprint in Canada, as the league's held wildly successful exhibition games north of the US border for the last two seasons. 

In 2023, a preseason matchup between Chicago and Minnesota sold out Toronto’s 19,800-capacity Scotiabank Arena. This past Saturday, the league drew more than 16,000 fans to Edmonton for a preseason showdown between LA and Seattle.

The Toronto team will reportedly play at Coca-Cola Coliseum, an 8,000-seat arena which is currently home to the Marlies as well as Toronto’s PWHL franchise.

Las Vegas Aces Make White House Return After Back-to-Back WNBA Titles

president biden with las vegas aces a'ja wilson at white house 2023 wnba championship celebration
President Joe Biden welcomed A'ja Wilson and the rest of the 2023 WNBA Champion Aces back to the White House. (SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

The Las Vegas Aces took to the White House yet again on Thursday to celebrate their 2023 WNBA championship victory

The decorated team was hosted by President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and First Lady Jill Biden, marking the first time the Bidens have welcomed the team personally.

Last year, Harris hosted the Aces after the Bidens were unable to attend due to a last minute conflict. Harris applauded the team for their 2022 win, pointing to the "grit and determination" they showcased en route to their WNBA Finals win over Connecticut. 

The Aces won back-to-back championships in 2023, becoming the first WNBA franchise to repeat the feat since 2002. More impressively, they did so without 2022 Finals MVP Chelsea Gray and center Kiah Stokes, both of whom were sidelined with injuries for the title-clinching Game 4. Star forward A’ja Wilson ended up claiming the 2023 Finals MVP honors.

Following the team’s White House visit, the Aces will visit Wilson’s alma mater South Carolina for an exhibition game against the Puerto Rico women's national basketball team. According to head coach Becky Hammon, the unconventional matchup came about when other WNBA teams lacked interest in facing the reigning champs in preseason play.

"We just started kind of building from there," Hammon told the Las Vegas Review Journal. "It’s really cool for players to go home, and that’s where she’s from. She’s the centerpiece of our whole organization."

Kelsey Plum jokingly called Wilson the "mayor of South Carolina" before citing the trip as an opportunity to build team chemistry ahead of their season opener against Phoenix on Tuesday.

"We have some new pieces, and we’re just trying to figure out where our rhythm is," Plum said, referring to recent roster prospects like Iowa grad Kate Martin, among others. "Because when the season starts, it happens fast."

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