That's not what is happening at all. I have been a supporter of the women's team getting the pay they deserve since forever. They have been the bigger draw than the men's team but this WC did it - not anymore. The mens professional leagues world-wide are a much bigger draw than any of the womens professional leagues. The USWNT draws a huge following at the world cup, but the other teams? Not as much by a long shot. The USMNT is a lesser draw than the other men's teams, but still you'd be hard pressed to find an empty seat in the stadium when they play in the WC. More interest means more direct revenue and more TV revenue. The women get paid less because there is less money - that's it. There is no discrimination taking place. The USWNT gets a bigger piece of the pie than the other national teams (outside of guaranteed money for where they place in the tournament) and they have better facilities and are taken more seriously than any other team in the world - and yet Rapinoe is leading a protest during the US national anthem? Why is that?
Another thing that is being ignored is the national team, every single player, came up through very expensive club programs. They've been paying to travel all over the country, and eventually all over the world to play since they were in grammar school. These women did not come from poverty. It's nearly impossible to make a HIGH SCHOOL team without club experience, and you don't have to look hard to hear story after story of self-centered, entitled players ruining the experience for everyone else, both at the high school and college level. I am sure it starts even before that. I can only imagine how much worse it is once you get to the national team.