Women's World Cup champions' pay dispute set for court after talks with U.S. Soccer break down

U.S. women’s soccer stars Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan after the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France Final in Lyon, France. Photo: Maddie Meyer/FIFA via Getty Images

The U.S. women’s national soccer team (USWNT) are ready to settle their pay dispute with the sport's American governing body in court, after mediation talks between the 2 sides broke down Wednesday, the Washington Post reports.

The big picture: The talks between USWNT players and the U.S. Soccer Federation were an effort to settle their gender-discrimination lawsuit, the Wall Street Journal notes.

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What they're saying: USSF spokesman Neil Buethe said in a statement issued to news outlets the counsel for the 2019 Women's World Cup champions "took an aggressive and ultimately unproductive approach that follows months of presenting misleading information to the public in an effort to perpetuate confusion."

• USWNT spokeswoman Molly Levinson said in a statement issued to news outelts that the players "will eagerly look forward to a jury trial."

Sounds like mediation is not going well for the #USWNT players and the federation. Statement from Molly Levinson, just in.

"We want all of our fans, sponsors, peers around the world, and women everywhere to know we are undaunted and will eagerly look forward to a jury trial." pic.twitter.com/AHkDKv3yZF

— Meg Linehan (@itsmeglinehan) August 14, 2019

Go deeper: Podcast: The equal pay fight for USWNT