The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, the squad at the center of a hit Netflix series, now have a union to take their pay dispute to the bargaining table. In a statement on Friday, the newly formed Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Association said the Cowboys organization voluntarily elected to formally recognize it as the cheerleaders’ official bargaining representative.

However, the announcement was only half the story. Once the news broke, fans threw their support behind the squad, and at least one used the moment to take a swipe at a football team sitting at 2-4.

How the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Got to the Bargaining Table

The release announcing the recognition praised the squad. “The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are an esteemed part of the Cowboys organization, deeply respected for the talent and dedication they exhibit,” it read. “They remain one of the most sought-after opportunities for talented dancers worldwide.”

Reporter Jen Ramos-Eisen shared the news on Friday afternoon, writing that the cheerleaders “have unionized and the Cowboys have agreed to recognize the union.”

The squad’s pay had been fought over for years, with a former dancer even filing a federal lawsuit under the Fair Labor Standards Act, before the cheerleaders landed a reported 400% raise in 2025.

That fight became a central thread of Netflix’s “America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders,” with much of Season 2 following high-ranking squad members as they risked retaliation to push for more money.

The show, whose latest season dropped in June, has opened doors off the field too, turning cheerleaders with plenty of screen time into influencers who land brand deals and marketing campaigns on top of their guaranteed team pay.

Fans Rally Behind the Cheerleaders as One Needles Dak Prescott and Co.

The move was widely supported by fans online. One fan managed to applaud the cheerleaders and needle the football team in the same breath: “Good. They deserve better pay since they are the only ones on the team that win.”

The jab lands on a team that sits third in the NFC East coming off a 23-13 loss at the Green Bay Packers. Dallas didn’t score until the third quarter, and Dak Prescott went 34-of-54 for 258 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions.

The Cowboys also have the worst defense per PFN’s Defense Impact Score with a 61.1 grade through six weeks.

Another fan kept the focus squarely on the cheerleaders: “That’s amazing. Their pay and benefits are ridiculous. Get that bag, ladies.”

Pay and benefits are exactly what’s on the table now. With official union representation, the cheerleaders will be able to continue negotiating pay, benefits, and labor conditions.

Another fan zeroed in on the money: “They only get paid $50 per GAME???” Though the Dallas Observer’s reported figures are higher. Even before the 2025 raise, the cheerleaders were making roughly $15 an hour, with a game-day rate starting at $400.

Another fan wrote, “As someone who was paid $25 a game dancing for the Chicago Bulls, I love this,” adding, “Cheerleaders and dancers bring a lot of entertainment value to events, and it’s about time they’re not only appreciated, but paid!”

Another fan hoped the Cowboys’ cheerleaders would be only the start: “Hopefully this will evolve into an NFL cheer union so every NFL Cheer squad can be in it. It’ll be like how the players have the NFLPA.”

The move could pave the way for cheerleaders and dancers employed by other professional sports teams, who are still lagging far behind the Cowboys organization.

The football team under head coach Brian Scottenheimer and quarterback Dak Prescott, meanwhile, gets its next shot at a third win on Monday at 8:15 p.m. ET, when the Cowboys visit the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field in Week 7.