For many, the 1999 US Women’s national soccer team is the greatest USWNT so far. Be it the talent they fielded on the pitch, or certain off-pitch endeavors, the 99ers hold a mythical stature in US soccer lore. However, former US goalie and two-time Olympic gold medalist Hope Solo is not ready to “bow down” to the legacy of Brandi Chastain and Co. Solo wonders why some from the 99 batch celebrated at the White House during the equal pay CBA signing between the USWNT and the USMNT.

Hope Solo, who faced US Soccer’s suspension and subsequent termination is speaking her heart out in the new Netflix documentary, Untold: Hope Solo vs U.S. Soccer. Solo, who convinced Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, and others to file a pay discrimination lawsuit against US Soccer, asks in the Netflix show what the 1999 World Cup winning team has done for equal pay.

“A lot of 99ers, they jumped on the bandwagon and then they started taking credit for it. They were at the white house when they celebrated equal pay. They’ve practically done nothing in this fight for equal pay,” said Solo.

The 2015 World champion then detailed how devastated the USWNT’s compensations were in 99 and early 2000s. “They left us no health insurance. Left us with no retirement funds, no $401Ks. They left us with a toxic environment,” said the Seattle Reign legend. Thereafter, Hope Solo lamented that the 99ers often tried to assert their supremacy over their successors.

“They continue to believe that we are supposed to bow down to them in regard to everything US Soccer,” Solo added.

The USWNT and the USMNT’s 2022 equal pay CBA is a result of the battle Solo started in 2016. Meanwhile, it’s not like the 99ers haven’t raised a voice against pay discrimination. Let’s have a sneak peek into the 99ers and Solo and her peers’ fight against pay discrimination.

Recalling Hope Solo and the 99ers fight against pay discrimination in the USWNT

US Soccer Federation Cindy Parlow Cone, Mia Hamm, and a few others refused to play for the USWNT after winning the 1999 World Cup. Why didn’t they immediately carry the WC momentum forward? Because they demanded better compensation and working conditions. That was one of the earlier known efforts to challenge the US Soccer’s pay disparity.

The fight for the right compensation reached a peak in 2016 with Hope Solo’s lawsuit. She also notably nurtured staunch equal rights advocates such as Rapinoe and Morgan. Though US Soccer suspended Solo and terminated her contract in 2016, she challenged the organization once again by filing an individual lawsuit for violating equal pay norms. Solo and fellow USWNT stars’ efforts saw success in 2022 and the women’s soccer scene still benefits from it.

What are your thoughts on Solo’s candid comments? Tell us in the comments.