The U.S. Soccer Federation filed a lawsuit in Chicago on Wednesday against the Women's National Team Players association, alleging that WNTPA executive director Richard Nichols "does not believe there is a current CBA in place," per an ESPN report.
USSF released a statement indicating that the suit was filed "reluctantly" against the representatives of their World Cup-winning squad and only in an effort to "confirm the existence" of a collective bargaining agreement.
"That is what they decided to go to court to have a court determine," Nichols said, according to ESPN. "Again, we're disappointed, but we understand that they have to do what they have to do. But the bottom line is we, notwithstanding their court activities, are quite confident that we're going to be able to come to an agreement."
The USSF believes that a CBA agreed upon in 2005 and altered by a memorandum of understanding, has been in effect since 2013 and remains valid until December 2016.
Per ESPN, Nichols sent an email, along with a copy of the lawsuit, to the USSF indicating that the CBA "no longer exists" and that the aforementioned memorandum of understanding "could be terminated at any time."
The USSF allegedly fears that the absence of a CBA would "jeopardize" the players' participation in future matches, perhaps even the 2016 Olympic Games.
Nichols remained adamant that a strike is not coming and that the players "just wanted to be treated fairly and with some respect."
Of course, considering one of the highest profile members of the women's national team, goalkeeper Hope Solo, was involved in a significant off-the-field incident involving allegations of domestic assault, under a CBA such as the one put in place by the National Football League, may have kept Solo off the field for those World Cup games and further, may very well have kept the women from coming out on top.
