NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Finally, women’s basketball teams will receive payment for participating in the NCAA Tournament, a significant change mirroring the longstanding system for men’s teams. This landmark decision was confirmed during the NCAA convention following a unanimous vote from its members, which was celebrated with applause. The approval marks the culmination of efforts that began when the Division I Board of Governors endorsed the proposal last August.
NCAA President Charlie Baker acknowledged the contributions of those who paved the way for women’s basketball, expressing gratitude for being part of this momentous occasion. “We’re the lucky ones. We got to be here on the day it became a reality,” Baker remarked, indicating that further investment is necessary to enhance the sport’s development. He emphasized the hope that future generations will appreciate the groundwork established by their predecessors.
Dawn Staley, head coach of South Carolina’s undefeated Gamecocks, who secured last year’s national championship, reacted positively to the vote, exclaiming “YES!” She highlighted that this decision substantiates ongoing efforts to elevate women’s basketball. Staley also noted the significance of performance units in addressing the shortcomings that have hindered the sport’s growth in relation to viewership and the quality of the on-court product.
Commencing with the upcoming tournament, women’s teams will be allocated performance units linked to tournament revenue, a system that could yield substantial funding for successful teams. Those reaching the Final Four could see their conferences receive about $1.26 million distributed over three years as part of these performance rewards. In the inaugural year alone, $15 million will be distributed from the fund, representing 26% of women’s basketball media revenue, with plans to increase to $25 million, equating to 41% by 2028. This 26% allocation is consistent with what men’s teams received at the start of their performance units program.
Despite the excitement, payments to teams participating in this March’s NCAA Tournament will be contingent on the availability of complete tournament data. Courtney Banghart, North Carolina’s head coach and president of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, celebrated the new fund, asserting it to be a hard-earned achievement for athletic departments dedicated to women’s basketball. She emphasized the sport’s rising popularity, noting that venues are reaching full capacity, and games are increasingly visible on national television.
The voting process on this initiative was conducted in two parts, with the first phase granting the permissions for payments to commence in the next NCAA Tournament, garnering only one dissenting vote. Meanwhile, the establishment of the women’s fund received unanimous support from the 292 members present. Louisville’s coach Jeff Walz applauded the decision, recognizing it as a long-overdue financial acknowledgment for women’s NCAA postseason achievements.
The framework for the women’s March Madness payment scheme shares similarities with the men’s basketball unit program, where each of the 32 conferences earning automatic tournament bids will obtain a performance unit alongside additional units for teams receiving at-large bids. Successful tournament runs will result in greater units for their respective conferences, which ultimately decide how to distribute revenues among member schools.
The NCAA’s media rights revenue has significantly increased, with men’s basketball receiving 24% of an $8.8 billion deal spanning eight years, contrasting with women’s basketball’s valuation at $65 million per tournament under a new contract with ESPN. Notably, the women’s percentage of the media revenue enhances each performance unit’s value, indicating a shift towards gender equity in sports funding.
Historically, NCAA revenue sharing has favored men’s tournaments, but changes are underway as evidenced by NCAA revenues from the 2018 tournament amounting to $844.3 million primarily from television and marketing agreements. Funds are typically circulated from the NCAA to conferences and subsequently to member institutions, which primarily reinvest these funds into athletic programs, including scholarships and facility upgrades.
Shea Ralph, coach at Vanderbilt and a former national champion, recognized this vote as a milestone achieved after years of hard work, highlighting the excitement surrounding the NCAA tournament as it approaches. Julie Roe Lach, commissioner of the Horizon League and a member of the women’s basketball oversight committee, referred to the creation of this fund as a significant advancement not only for women’s basketball but for women’s sports at large as they strive for gender equity.
Acknowledging the impressive surge in popularity for women’s college basketball, Lach emphasized that this moment is just the beginning. The unrestricted nature of these funds allows institutions and conferences the flexibility to determine investments that best support their programs.
The women’s tournament concluded its most successful year to date, achieving a record viewership of 18.7 million during the championship game. This outperformance against the men’s tournament illustrates a growing interest in women’s sports, underlined by record attendance levels.
In another notable development, the Division I has approved a championship for women’s wrestling, with discussions set to continue in Divisions II and III. Additionally, SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey indicated that any alterations to the College Football Playoff would require unanimous consent, as discussions regarding new eligibility rules for athletes are ongoing.
Overall, the recent decisions point toward an exciting future for women’s sports as they gain recognition and resources previously lacking, paving the way for sustained growth and success.
