Two weeks ago, fresh off their World Cup win, the U.S. national team touched down in Newark, N.J., and basked in the adoration of their fans at a parade in New York City. But underneath the celebration, there was also something of a chess match taking place. Speaker after speaker rose to the podium, and each used their time behind the microphone to advance their side of the equal pay argument.



The city’s first lady, Chirlane McCray, got things started, winding up the crowd with chants in support of equal pay, and her husband, New York City mayor Bill de Blasio, happily kept them going. De Blasio, who is also seeking to become the Democrats’ nominee in the 2020 presidential race, also got in some campaign talking points, telling telling CNN that “If I were president of the United States, I would insist that congress pass an amendment to the Amateur Sports Act requiring equal pay for men and women in all of our national sports teams. And if they didn’t do...