The NCAA spends more on men’s sports than women’s, another gender equity report finds

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A player streaks across the NCAA logo at midcourt during basketball practice in this file photo from March 14, 2012.

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Men’s And Women’s NCAA March Madness Facilities, Separate And Unequal, Spark Uproar

A video shared on TikTok showed minimal equipment in the women’s weight room during their championships. In comparison, the men’s room had far more weights and power racks. The clear visual differences launched a deluge of criticism from athletes and officials in college athletics.

The August review found that the organization has treated women’s games unfairly for years.

The law firm wrote, «This same pressure has led the NCAA to invest more — and in some instances considerably more — in those championships that it views as already or potentially revenue-producing, while minimizing spending for other championships.»

Officials assure change is on the way

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Stanford players, top, and a Utah Valley player warm up before their college basketball game in the first round of the women’s NCAA tournament at the Alamodome in San Antonio, in this March 21, 2021, file photo. The NCAA women’s basketball tournament used March Madness in marketing and branding this season.

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A Report Found The NCAA Undervalues Women’s Basketball, Prioritizes Men’s Teams

Since the August analysis was issued, the NCAA has taken steps to address gender equity concerns in basketball. Those changes included using March Madness marketing at both the Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships. The organization has said more changes are on the way.

The NCAA perceives male sports as more lucrative, the report said

Tuesday’s report highlighted that the NCAA only perceives men’s championships in Division I baseball, men’s basketball, men’s ice hockey, men’s lacrosse, and wrestling as money makers.

Most of the time, men’s and women’s championships of the same sports are resourced equitably by the NCAA, the report said. But for sports where one championship is viewed as more lucrative than its female counterpart, «stark differences in spending and staffing emerge, leading to inequitable student-athlete experiences in those championships.»

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People watch coverage of the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament at the Westgate Superbook sports book on March 15, 2018, in Las Vegas.

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A detail view of the CBS and March Madness logos displayed on a microphone during the NCAA Division I men’s championship second round basketball game on March 18, 2018 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.

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A detail view of the CBS and March Madness logos displayed on a microphone during the NCAA Division I men’s championship second round basketball game on March 18, 2018 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.

Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The agreement with CBS/Turner partnership in airing the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, which reportedly will last until at least 2032, provides the NCAA with the largest source of its revenue. For this year’s March Madness events, CBS/Turner paid a combined $850 million to carry the tournament.

The law firm estimated that the NCAA is severely losing out on additional, crucial revenue that can improve treatment for female athletics.

For example, ESPN is «significantly underpaying» the organization for the tournament rights for 29 championships, the report found. The annual broadcast rights for Division I women’s basketball will be worth between $81 million and $112 million in 2025 — «multiples more» than ESPN currently pays annually to broadcast those 29 championships, including Division I women’s basketball.