Women's college basketball teams to be paid for playing NCAA Tournament games
In a landmark decision aimed at addressing the pay gap in college sports, the NCAA has announced that Division I women's basketball teams will receive "performance units" for participating in March Madness games starting this year. This change follows a unanimous vote at the NCAA convention in Nashville, Tennessee, marking a significant milestone in establishing a financial framework for women's basketball.
Historically, men's basketball teams have benefitted from revenue-sharing plans, but the growing popularity of women's basketball prompted the NCAA's Board of Governors to vote for this proposal in August. The recent vote finalized the details of the plan, which will allocate a total of $15 million to teams starting in the 2025 season, comprising 26% of the women's basketball media revenue deal. This amount is set to increase to $20 million for the 2026-27 fiscal year and $25 million by the 2027-28 fiscal year.
The revenue distribution structure is designed to reward schools based on their tournament performance. For instance, a team making it to the Final Four could potentially generate $1.26 million for its conference over the next three years. This new arrangement mirrors the revenue-sharing model already in place for men's tournaments, underscoring a commitment to equitable access to funds.
NCAA President Charlie Baker hailed the decision as a historic day for women's sports, emphasizing the organization's dedication to investing in women's athletics. He expressed excitement about the opportunities this initiative will create for colleges to enhance support for female athletes. This support comes at a time when the women's national championship game set viewing records, attracting 18.7 million viewers and outdrawing the men's championship by 3 million, a testament to the rising engagement with women's basketball.
UConn star Paige Bueckers and head coach Geno Auriemma both voiced their approval of the revenue sharing, viewing it as a crucial step forward for the sport. Bueckers noted the importance of acknowledging the contributions of women's basketball to the broader landscape of college athletics. With the women's NCAA Tournament set to begin on March 19 in Tampa, Florida, anticipation is high for the upcoming season and its continued growth.