PRESS BOX: Gender inequity impacts women’s basketball

Bersabeh Kemaw, Contributing Writer

March Madness is arguably one of the most anticipated and watched sporting events in the country.

This college level basketball tournament, that is single elimination, brings an intense level of competitiveness and hunger to the game of basketball, which has always been enjoyable to watch for viewers and fans all around.

Although March Madness is a well-known tournament, the center of attention and spotlight has always been prominently placed on the men’s NCAA Division I teams, rather than the women’s teams. 

Gender inequity in basketball has always existed. However, Stanford University sports performance coach Ali Kershner posted a photo exposing the NCAA for its facilities at the women’s tournament in 2021. An outrage about the mistreatment of women in sports began nationally, according to NBC. 

The exposure of the facilities led to many outcries from players and coaches. It also sparked an investigation into the treatment and handling of women’s basketball, as well as a 118-page report, according to Yahoo Sports.

The difference in comparison between the men’s and women’s facilities for March Madness was undeniable. The women, for starters, did not have access to a weight room until they made it to the Sweet 16 round of the tournament. Even then, there were limits in place for how much weight the women were allowed to have in their facilities.

Molly Binetti, a performance coach at South Carolina University, stated on Twitter sarcastically to show her feelings about the difference in equipment and facilities.

“A weight room will be available once you advance to the Sweet 16…,” Binetti stated. “-2 racks -2 bars -Dumbbells up to 50lb because women can’t lift more than that”

Texas A&M senior forward N’dea Jones was one of many players who spoke out about the controversial post, according to USA TODAY.

“It’s been like that for years. It’s not something new. I think it’s worse now because we are in a bubble, and we can’t control a lot of the things that we normally would be able to control,” Jones said. “We can’t leave. We have to use the amenities that they give us.” 

The NCAA has also received much backlash for the gap in expenses dispersed for women and men’s basketball during the tournament.

In 2019, reports showed there was a $13.5 million gap between the two groups. The association budgeted a whopping total of $28 million for the men’s tournament, whereas for the women’s tournament, they only budgeted $14.5 million, according to The New York Times.

Not only is there a lack of funding when it comes to college women’s basketball, but there is also a lack of coverage and attention. 

Within the past 30 years, there has not been much change seen when it comes to the coverage of women’s sports, according to a Purdue University research.

In 2022, the women’s March Madness tournament averaged about 634,000 viewers per game, which was a 16% increase from 2021, according to the Associated Press.

South Carolina University’s win over the University of Connecticut at the championship game in 2022 brought in 4.85 million viewers, making it the most watched women’s title game since 2004, according to ESPN Press Room.

However, this year, the first two rounds of the tournament have averaged a record of 391,000 views, a 28% increase to last year’s stats, according to Associated Press.

On the other hand, the men’s March Madness tournament averaged a total of 10.7 million viewers in 2022, according to the NCAA.

The immense disparities between men and women’s college basketball shows how much growth and advancement is desperately needed when it comes to women’s basketball and the treatment it rightfully deserves.