NCAA Approves Pay Structure for Women’s Teams in March Madness
Unanimous Vote Marks a Major Step Toward Gender Equity in College Athletics
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Women’s basketball teams will finally be paid for playing games in the NCAA Tournament each March, just like the men have for years, under a plan approved Wednesday at the NCAA convention.
The unanimous vote by NCAA membership was met by a round of applause both inside the ballroom and around the sport. This was the final step toward a pay structure for women playing in March Madness after the Division I Board of Governors voted unanimously for the proposal in August.
NCAA President Charlie Baker joined others in giving credit for the creation of a performance fund to those who came before and helped build women’s basketball.
“Now comes more work and continued investment to grow women’s basketball even more,” Baker said.
South Carolina coach Dawn Staley, whose Gamecocks went undefeated and won last year’s national championship, said her first thought hearing of the vote was a simple “YES!”
“This continues our fight to lift women’s basketball to historic levels,” Staley said. “I appreciate the decision by the Kaplan Hecker and Fink law firm to include the lack of units in their report as a key issue holding women’s basketball back from capitalizing on the historic viewership and quality of the product on the court.”
Performance Fund Details
So-called performance units, which represent revenue, will be given to women’s teams playing in the tournament starting this year, the event’s 43rd edition. A team that reaches the Final Four could bring its conference roughly $1.26 million over the next three years in financial performance rewards.
In the first year, $15 million will be awarded to teams out of the fund, which is 26% of the women’s basketball media revenue deal. That will grow to $25 million, or 41% of the revenue, by 2028. The 26% is on par with what men’s basketball teams received the first year the performance units program was established.
Teams making this March’s NCAA Tournament won’t actually be paid until the organization has a full tournament of data available.
Impact on Women’s Basketball
North Carolina coach Courtney Banghart, also president of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, called postseason units a reward for the investment by athletic departments in women’s basketball.
“The long awaited, hard fought for and well-earned day is here,” Banghart said. “I am so grateful for the effort of so many to bring this reality to our sport. Women’s basketball is more popular than ever before, seats are filled, arenas are sold out, and games are on national TV almost every night.”
UConn guard Paige Bueckers agreed that this is a huge step toward helping this sport grow.
“Just for women to capitalize on what we brought to the sport and what we do for just sports in general and entertainment and just to be able to be a part of that, we’re extremely grateful,” Bueckers said.
Conclusion
The approval of the pay structure for women’s teams in March Madness is a major step toward gender equity in college athletics. The creation of a performance fund will provide financial rewards to teams that perform well in the tournament, and will help to grow the popularity of women’s basketball.
FAQs
Q: How much will teams receive in the first year?
A: $15 million will be awarded to teams out of the fund, which is 26% of the women’s basketball media revenue deal.
Q: How much will teams receive by 2028?
A: The fund will grow to $25 million, or 41% of the revenue, by 2028.
Q: When will teams actually receive payment?
A: Teams making this March’s NCAA Tournament won’t actually be paid until the organization has a full tournament of data available.
Q: What is the significance of this move?
A: The approval of the pay structure for women’s teams in March Madness is a major step toward gender equity in college athletics, and will help to grow the popularity of women’s basketball.
