© Kelley L Cox/Imagn
Have you ever been so mad at one of your favorite sports teams that you decided to file a lawsuit? If you’re a rational, well-adjusted human being the answer to that question is probably “no, of course not.” But it seems that United States Women’s National Team fan Michael Buxbaum doesn’t quite see things the same way. Buxbaum filed a lawsuit against U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) in the Southern District of New York earlier this month, claiming that the USSF, specifically the USWNT, is defrauding the federal government by “not trying to win.”
Buxbaum is seeking nearly $100 million in damages because he alleges the USWNT was “not trying to win” a recent She Believes Cup game against Japan in which they lost 2-1. But that’s not all! Buxbaum Also demands an injunction against the federation to prevent U.S. Soccer games from being broadcast on television and demands that wagering on U.S. Soccer games be banned pending the litigation.
Plenty of fans think it while watching their team play, but few act on the impulse:
A complaint was filed against U.S. Soccer for defrauding the U.S. government by “not trying to win” in the She Believes Cup (where it lost 2-1 to Japan in the final). 1/2 pic.twitter.com/pY1c6U6ZeP
— Steven Bank (@ProfBank) April 21, 2025
A quick Google search shows that Buxbaum is not a stranger to frivolous lawsuits. In fact, it appears he’s more or less spamming suits in hopes that one sticks. Which is a pretty bold approach considering they all seems to lack any, y’know, supporting evidence. And listen, if you’re going to sue a U.S. national soccer team for not trying to win, maybe start with the men and not the team that recently won gold at the Olympics.
Should this case somehow succeed (it won’t), I would like to go back in time and have a serious talk with some lawyers about the 2015-16 Philadelphia 76ers.