The NCAA’s women’s basketball oversight committee is considering changes within the sport related to branding and participation opportunities, according to a press release Tuesday.
The announcement comes amid a gender equity review being conducted by Kaplan, Hecker & Fink LLP following an inadequate Weight room setup among other unequal conditions at the 2021 NCAA women’s Division I basketball tournament. Changes implemented by the committee will be in accordance with the recommendations of the outside firm.
One large change that will be considered is a switch to using the March Madness branding traditionally associated only with the NCAA men’s Division I basketball tournament. Both the women’s basketball oversight committee and men’s Division I basketball committee would work together to review the NCAA’s collegiate basketball branding strategy.
The committee also plans to explore changes to the structure of the women’s tournament in conjunction with the women’s basketball committee, broadcast partners and stakeholders. A possible expansion to 68 teams as well as changes to the tournament’s timing and the Women’s Final Four will be discussed.
