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sports Diabierna 4 Maart 2022

US team union commits $2.5M for loans benefitting women

(AP) - As the union for national team a gender discrimination lawsuit filed by
players works out the details of a his- some of the women’s team players in
toric equitable pay agreement with 2019.
U.S. Soccer, the players are looking
to expand their influence into pro- But the settlement hinges on the two
grams that benefit other women. sides coming together to reach a new col-
lective bargaining agreement. The dead-
The U.S. Women’s National Team Play- line is March 31.
ers Association on Thursday announced
a new initiative with the nonprofit Kiva, Dunn, as secretary of the union, has been
committing $2.5 million in no-fee, no-in- active in bargaining with U.S. Soccer. At
terest loan capital to more than 400 small the same time that her teammates held a
businesses — with a focus on women and virtual news conference to tout the agree-
underserved communities. ment last week, Dunn was at the negoti-
ating table.
“The U.S. women’s national team stands
for so much more than just the fact that “I do feel like it is moving in the right
we’re soccer players and this is the time direction. And yes, the deadline is ap-
to really lean into our fight for pay equity, proaching but we’ve upped our sessions,
and economic justice is an extension of we’re meeting constantly throughout the
that,” defender Crystal Dunn said. week, and I am very hopeful that we are
going to reach an agreement,” Dunn said.
Kiva, based in San Francisco, crowdfunds “I think the relationship is building, it’s
loans to entrepreneurs in underserved getting stronger. I do think both sides
communities across the globe who might want this federation to be as successful as
not have access to traditional loans. Some possible, and now it’s just about agreeing
81% of Kiva’s borrowers are women. to terms that we both feel comfortable
agreeing to and moving in the right direc-
The four-year partnership was announced tion.”
in advance of International Women’s Day
on March 8. For every $25 loaned to the Dunn, who was on the U.S. squad that
businesses highlighted on Kiva’s US- won the World Cup in 2019, is pregnant
WNTPA’s website, the union will match with her first child, so she’s not currently
the contribution. playing for either the national team or her
club, the Portland Thorns. The union
While the players champion economic gives her a new platform to use her voice.
equity, they also negotiating a new col-
lective bargaining agreement with U.S. “I would say I feel like I have this incred-
Soccer. ible perspective where, I’m still around a
lot of soccer players on a daily basis, but
The two sides announced a breakthrough I get to take this step back and really see
last week, with U.S. Soccer pledging what changes and impact I want to help
to equalize pay between the men’s and make,” Dunn said. “I get to really dive
women’s national teams. The federation into such a new journey, and I’m so ex-
also agreed to pay $24 million to settle cited about that.”

Virginia fires women’s hoops coach Thompson after 4 seasons

(AP) - Virginia dismissed liams said in a statement re- was not played. The game Dame ultimately played no Feb. 22 because of the aca-
women’s basketball coach leased by the school. “I am was initially scheduled for one on Jan. 25. demic stress she believed it
Tina Thompson after four thankful for Coach Thomp- Jan. 25, but was canceled, would have put on her play-
seasons on Thursday. son’s efforts and I wish her Thompson said, to allow the Thompson said Virginia de- ers.
the very best.” Fighting Irish to play another cided not to play the game
Athletic director Carla Wil- opponent. However, Notre after it was rescheduled for
liams made the announce- Thompson’s tenure included
ment. It came one day after an 0-5 mark last season, be-
the 14th-seeded Cavaliers fore the Cavaliers opted out
were eliminated 61-53 by of the season, and a a 2-16
Wake Forest in the first round conference ledger during the
of the Atlantic Coast Confer- regular season this year that
ence Tournament. Thomp- includes a pair of forfeits.
son has one year remaining
on her contract. Virginia took a loss without
taking the court after a game
The Cavaliers were 5-22 this scheduled Feb. 10 at No. 4
season and 30-63 in four Louisville was canceled fol-
years under Thompson, a lowing an announcement by
Naismith Basketball Hall of the ACC that the Cavaliers’
Famer and four-time WNBA plane had mechanical and
champion. They were 15-38 staffing issues so the team
against conference competi- couldn’t get out of Charlot-
tion. tesville in time.

“Unfortunately, we have not The most recent forfeit be-
experienced the kind of suc- came official last week when
cess this program has come a rescheduled home game
to expect and deserve,” Wil- against No. 14 Notre Dame