The U.S. women's national soccer team's ongoing battle for equal pay took center stage at the 2023 ESPYS, where they were honored with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. A montage showcasing their fight for pay equity and social justice, including their lawsuit against U.S. Soccer, was presented. The segment included commentary from various voices, including former ESPN host and current Fox News contributor Will Cain, whose remarks on the complexities of equal pay in soccer sparked discussion.

The montage highlighted the revenue disparities between the men's and women's World Cups, with Cain arguing that equal pay is a flawed concept. He emphasized that compensation should be based on revenue generation, suggesting that if women's soccer generates more revenue, the players should be paid accordingly. Cain's perspective, which included an analysis of revenue distribution percentages between men's and women's soccer, drew attention and prompted further debate on social media.

The discussion extended to television ratings, with Cain and former ESPN colleague Ryan Hollins clarifying comparisons between men's and women's World Cup viewership. They pointed out the importance of considering which teams are playing and whether the U.S. is participating, particularly in the context of domestic viewership. The conversation around equal pay in sports continues, with the ESPYS segment bringing renewed attention to the USWNT's advocacy and the nuanced arguments surrounding it.