NCAA Expands Women’s Hoops Tourney As Part Of Overarching ‘Gender Equity’ Plan

By Barry Janoff

November 17, 2021: As part of its promised strategy to bring the Div. I Women’s Basketball Tournament on-par with the Div. I Men’s Basketball Tournament, the NCAA said it has expanded the Div. I Women's Basketball Championship bracket from 64 to 68 teams, effective with the 2022 championship.

The Div. I Men’s Basketball Tournament expanded to 68 teams in 2011.

The decision follows a recommendation from a comprehensive external gender equity review of NCAA championships conducted by Kaplan Hecker & Fink.

The first phase of the review examined historical inequities in college basketball and was initiated by issues raised during the 2021 Div. I Men's and Women's Basketball Championships this past March.

They included complaints from participants in the Women’s Basketball Tournament that included inadequate travel, accommodations, training facilities and other services — especially when compared to what was being offered by the NCAA for the Div. I Men’s Basketball Tournament.

The NCAA said it has “taken significant steps — both at the national office and at the membership levels — to address gender equity concerns in the sport of basketball.

“These include using March Madness marketing at both the Div. I Men's and Women's Basketball Championships and the continued exploration of hosting joint Men's and Women's Final Fours in the same city starting with the next bid cycle," according to the NCAA.

The NCAA said both the Div. I Women's Basketball Committee and the Div. I Women's Basketball Oversight Committee supported the expansion, which brings participation opportunities for the women's tournament in line with the men's event.

The expanded tournament field was also supported by the Women's Basketball Coaches Assn.

"This action corrects an inequity that has existed between the men's and women's championships for a decade and provides equitable post-season participation opportunities for Div. I men's and women's basketball student-athletes,” Danielle Donehew, WBCA executive director, said via the organization.

“We are making progress in our efforts to address gender inequities in our sport, but much remains to be done. The WBCA's member coaches, board of directors and staff will remain diligent in this endeavor until all of the recommendations in the Kaplan Hecker report have been implemented."

The Div. I Women's Basketball Final Four is scheduled for April 1-3, 2022 in Target Center, Minneapolis.

The 68 teams participating in the 2022 women's championship will be unveiled March 13 as part of an  ESPN selection show.

"This immediate expansion of the women's basketball championship reinforces the fact that leaders within Divi. I are committed to strengthening aspects of the women's basketball championship that directly impact student-athletes," Council chair Shane Lyons, athletics director at West Virginia, said via the NCAA.

“We are making progress in our efforts to address gender inequities in our sport, but much remains to be done."

"We look forward to the positive change this will have for the student experience at the championship, especially as it relates to equal team opportunities to compete in the tournament."

For the 19th consecutive year, ESPN platforms will broadcast all championship games nationally — 67 beginning during the 2022 championship.

This will be the 27th straight year (since 1996) ESPN is the championship's exclusive television home.

"ESPN is proud to have collaborated with the NCAA through the years to elevate the Women's Basketball Championship," Nick Dawson, ESPN vp-programming and acquisitions, said via the network.

"We look forward to highlighting even more student-athletes and teams in pursuit of their championship dreams as part of this expansion of March Madness."

NCCA Taking Moves To Equalize Women’s March Madness

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