The StoryFemale athletes are finally scoring some real money. It's about time.You can say that again. Even though the USWNT lost the World Cup, they still brought home their biggest payout yet: $3.25 million. That's thanks in part to last year's US Soccer Federation agreement, which leveled the playing (err, paying) field for the women's and men's national teams. Canada and England (more on the Lionesses' loss below) are making equal pay moves too. Meanwhile, American college athletes have been able to cash in on their name, image, and likeness (NIL) — leading to some major pay days for women. In the tennis world, the USTA is celebrating 50 years of equal pay — a move that pushed other grand slams to do the same. Still, female athletes have to keep an eye on the scoreboard when it comes to compensation. Go on.The prize money at this year's Women's World Cup ($110 million) is only about one-quarter of what the men earned at last year's World Cup. The disparity means female soccer players at this year's tourney are reportedly making 25 cents to every dollar the men made. In college sports, NIL deal projections show LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne earning about $3.5 million, former Miami basketball stars Haley and Hanna Cavinder nearing $2 million, and LSU basketball phenom Angel Reese bringing in more than $1.5 million. But Dunne and Reese are the only women in a top 10 list of the highest NIL valuations. The reason? One report found NIL compensation largely benefits football and men's basketball student athletes. theSkimm Changes in the last few years have made it possible for some female athletes to earn big. Now, there's hope that growing interest in women's sports can help even more women and leagues cash in. | 
