Overview

• The squad’s 400% raise takes veteran cheerleaders from roughly $15 an hour to about $75 per hour for 2025-26.
• Before the increase, many members earned $15 an hour for practice and $500 per game, requiring them to juggle multiple jobs.
• Leaders such as Jada McLean, Megan McElaney and Armani Latimer drove the contract talks that led to the boost.
• Netflix’s America’s Sweethearts docuseries shone a spotlight on the cheerleaders’ financial struggles and helped galvanize support.
• Despite the substantial wage increase, the new agreement still does not include health insurance benefits.