This is confusing but once one understands it seems as simple as black and white. When a new program starts, male or female, there is not any money from that sport to back it.
Equipment is needed, as well as, travel expenses, coaches, and referee fees.
This can not be done with out the aid of another sport supporting them. In fact, for the first five to ten years support from other teams is needed to keep the sport going. This is because it takes five to ten years to build a good program and have people want to come and pay money to watch the team play. At that point most teams can go on their own and support themselves. However, for some women's sports it is not that easy.