REAL female athletes and their families are livid over this absurdity. This practice will not stand in its current state for long.
Every time one of those big-mouthed female athletes like Serena Williams, Martina Navratilova, or the entire U.S. national women's soccer team complains about "gender equality" in pay, they open a huge Pandora's box that isn't going to be closed anytime soon. The natural reaction any rational, thinking person would have is:
If you think you're equal to men and should be paid the same as men, then you should be forced to compete against them.
"Gender equality" in sports has no meaning when you have men and women competing in separate leagues.
You made your bed, ladies ... now go sleep in it.