women's basketball essay

A line of women hold hands on a basketball court

HISTORY & CULTURE

Why women's basketball still fights for equal recognition

Women’s basketball has faced a long history in its battle for equal resources and pay for women athletes—even as more viewers tune in.

When then-President Richard Nixon signed Title IX into law in 1972, the door seemed to open for women’s sports. Women’s athletics programs began to form at colleges and universities that had previously only sponsored men’s sports teams. Women’s collegiate programs gained funding and began to play competitive sports against other women’s college teams.

The Title IX federal civil rights law states: “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

But in the nearly 50 years since Title IX came into force, women in sports have consistently faced gender inequality. In recent years, the United States Women’s national soccer team has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Soccer Federation alleging discrimination on the basis of sex. And in professional tennis, women players have demanded prize money equal to that awarded to men players. Most recently, college basketball has had a very public reckoning of its own.

Inequality at the NCAA tournament

Disparities between the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball programs were brought to light during the 2021 NCAA basketball tournaments. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the NCAA followed the NBA’s model of creating a “bubble,” hosting the men’s and women’s tournaments each in a single city and assigning players to designated hotels and practice facilities. ( Discover the history of basketball—from peach baskets in Springfield to global phenomenon. )

When the teams arrived at the facilities in San Antonio, Texas, where the women’s tournament was hosted this year, photos on social media caused an immediate uproar. Ali Kershner, a strength coach from Stanford University (which ultimately would claim the tournament crown) posted a photo to Instagram comparing the men’s weight room to the women’s. The men had professional squat racks and plenty of space while the women were provided with only yoga mats and dumbbells.

Sedona Prince, a player on the Oregon Ducks women’s basketball team, also posted a video of the weight room to Tik Tok, in a post that reached millions. Prince panned her camera across the women’s facility showing the large amount of empty space where weight racks could have been and told her followers, "If you're not upset about this problem, then you’re a part of it."

Marissa Banfield, a senior guard for The Stephen F. Austin University Lady Jacks, says initially she was excited to get to her first NCAA national tournament—but that changed when the uproar began.

“The next day you see it all on social media, literally the difference,” Banfield says. “And this is disappointing. It kind of hurts because both men's and women's teams are working toward the same goal: [to win] a championship or to win that first game.”

Banfield added that not only were the weight rooms different but so were the swag bags that each team receives for making it to the national tournament. Social media also displayed pictures of major disparities between the food furnished for the men’s and women’s tournaments. Banfield noted that she and her teammates did not think some of the meals were adequate , even though it is vital for players to be nourished for a sporting event like the NCAA national tournament.

“We were getting food that we couldn't eat and we did not want to eat,” Banfield says. “We probably didn't eat breakfast for like three or four days, and then you see men's teams getting steak, shrimp, and all that stuff. So, it was just kind of disappointing and confusing. “

But the controversy was hardly new. Women have been fighting for equity in sports for years.

A long battle

The disparity between the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball facilities were all too familiar to Jasmine Williams, a recent Texas A & M women’s basketball alumna. During her time playing for the school, the women’s program did not receive any facility upgrades—not even in a season when they reached the “sweet 16” rounds of the tournament. Meanwhile, the men’s basketball team didn’t even reach the tournament and got a newly renovated facility.

“Upon the men’s coach’s hiring, all of a sudden the entire facility got a face lift on the men's side.” Williams noted. “They got a brand new weight room, they updated their offices, they updated their practice gym, they updated everything.”

Williams added that it was a struggle just to obtain a new locker room for the women’s team.

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“It took us to get outside sponsorship to get a new locker room,” she said. “Our locker rooms are in the same facility as the men’s and ours looked like [they date back to] 2002.”

Collegiate and professional women’s basketball players have been fighting for equality and respect for years.

In the 1970s, schools were slow to implement the changes required by Title IX. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did not have a women’s athletics department or competitive sports teams when Title IX was passed—and when it launched one in 1974, it did not initially give scholarships to women athletes. The following year, Illini women’s athletes became eligible for three-year tuition waivers, but had to hold a higher GPA than male athletes. The school also gave the women’s athletic department around $80,000—compared to more than $2 million given to the men’s athletic department.

In 1977, two Illini athletes filed suit against the University of Illinois Athletic Association to force compliance with gender equity. In 1978, the suit was settled out of court and the women’s athletics department’s budget tripled.

But funding disparities have remained into the modern era. Earlier this year, ESPN reported that the NCAA budgeted nearly twice as much for the 2019 men’s basketball tournament as it did for the women’s—a $13.5 million discrepancy.

Inequities extend beyond the collegiate ranks. Women’s basketball wasn’t recognized by the International Olympic Committee as a medal event until 1976—40 years after men’s basketball was recognized in 1936. Meanwhile, WNBA players have been fighting for the league to recognize their value—both as teams and individual players—since its earliest years.

A woman goes for a layup during a basketball game

The Houston Comets, one of the original WNBA franchises, is a prime example. The Comets won the league’s first four championships back-to-back from 1997 to 2000, immediately creating a dynasty. Yet the team was dissolved in 2008 after the team was sold twice within a span of two years. Other founding teams also have been sold.

Though the WNBA has remained resilient as a league, for a long time players also had to compensate for inequities of their sport by playing two seasons. To make ends meet, they’d play one season in the United States with their WNBA team and, once that was over, they would play in a different country for the remainder of the year. ( Wheelchair basketball in Cambodia changed these women's lives. )

In June of 2020, however, major changes arrived as the WNBA reached a new collective bargaining agreement that amounted to a 53 percent pay raise. The agreement raised a player’s base salary to $130,000 and created additional bonuses and prize pools. Top players can now earn more than $500,000 a year in cash, which is more than triple the previous maximum cash compensation for the league.

Though this new agreement is nowhere near the NBA’s average of $7 million per player, it is a step in the right direction for the women’s game—and for women’s sports overall as they continue to battle for equity in the nearly half a century since Title IX became law.

A reckoning

Following the social media outcry over the weight room at the women’s college basketball tournament, NCAA vice president of women’s basketball Lynn Holzman released a statement explaining that the lack of amenities was due to a lack of space inside the NCAA bubble.

"The original plan was to expand the workout area once additional space was available later in the tournament," Holzman said.

Holzman, who was the captain of the Kansas state women’s basketball team in 1994, said in a later interview with ESPN’s Holly Rowe that the mistake was unacceptable. The NCAA “immediately starting working to rectify the issue” once it realized the difference between the practice facilities, she said, ultimately providing the women’s players with an upgraded weight room with more equipment in a larger space.

“We've been fighting uphill battles for years—in sport and in many other aspects of our lives,” Holzman told Rowe. “We have to be diligent and we have responsibilities as leaders to make sure that there are equitable opportunities for our student athletes so that they really have the best experience possible. In the case of this year, that was a miss.”

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How the WNBA is Leading the Fight for Equality in Women’s Sports

Basketball is not just basketball–it’s “women’s basketball.” Soccer is not just soccer–it’s “women’s soccer.” It’s already frustrating enough that women’s sports come with a modifier, but this modifier carries a lot of power when determining athlete salaries. The Women’s National Soccer Team (USWNT) and the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) have had the most success garnering attention for pay inequalities in the sports world. The USWNT notably got its pay equity lawsuit classified as a class action lawsuit, all while winning yet another World Title, and the WNBA is not only breaking boundaries in the fight for gender equality, but also leads all leagues in racial and gender hiring practices .

Since it's #InternationalWomensDay , it's only right that we feature some of our very own trailblazers! Take a look back at the top photos from the groundbreaking #WNBA CBA! https://t.co/mZvEu7LBS6 — WNBA (@WNBA) March 8, 2020

In recent actions, WNBA players have been demanding better pay and conditions from the league. In January the WNBA and WNBPA announced a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) to much excitement. The press claimed it was a landmark day in the WNBA–and for good reason–but what exactly are the reasons for excitement and what precedents does it set for other women’s sports in the U.S.?

Firstly, the CBA adjusts the minimum and maximum salaries for players. On average, player salaries increased nearly 82%. The CBA also increases the cut of revenue that players receive, although not as much as had been hoped for: it was released that the league and its players would now split revenue 50/50, as is in the NBA, but the final agreement settled on players receiving 25% of revenue while the other 25% goes towards marketing and promotional agreements. A 5% bump is a significant increase, but is only the first step in the path to equity between the WNBA and NBA.

The most important part of the CBA is the establishment of pregnancy benefits. Women in the workforce have continually been robbed because of pregnancy, and women athletes are no different: pregnancy impacts endorsements, contracts, and playing time. WNBA star Skylar Diggins admitted to playing the entire 2018 season secretly pregnant, and the fact that players even feel the need to keep pregnancies a secret because they know that they will be treated differently and jeopardize their income is a blatant sign of discrimination. Male athletes don’t have the same fears of starting a family: if anything, the “family man” is appealing to big endorsers like Nike and Adidas because there is less risk of the player having “bad behavior” that could tarnish the brand’s name.

The league and endorsing companies are more concerned about the image of women athletes (and the sexualization of women athletes is a whole different issue), their bodies, and their ability to recover and play at the same level afterwards. The same life events that make men more appealing make women less appealing to athletic establishment: this double standard is the cherry on top of the sexist sports world sundae.

The WNBA’s new CBA guarantees 100% base salary, compared to the previous 50%, for pregnancy leave, and includes reimbursement for childcare and improved conditions for nursing mothers. This agreement is a victory for WNBA players and women athletes across the sports world. The WNBA has shown that it is investing in women and the league’s willingness to bet on the success of its athletes can encourage other leagues to do the same.

While men are the dominating force in sports (and male viewers always have the most to say about women’s sports), there is also outspoken support for and increasing attendance at WNBA games from many NBA players. If the best men’s basketball players can attest to the worthiness and talent of the women players, it is hard to understand how so many still question the necessity of equitable pay. In the wise words of NBA player Isaiah Thomas, “If you don’t respect WNBA players, you’re a joke. You’re a joke, man.”

Pingback: Gender Stereotypes and Inequality in the WNBA and how the Media Effects it – ::CMST//MCOM final project blog::

How Women’s Basketball Became the Hottest Thing in College Sports

By Louisa Thomas

A photo of Kamorea Arnold of the University of Connecticut and Caitlin Clark of the University of Iowa jumping for a...

For years, television ratings were taken as a proxy of the popularity of college basketball, and the numbers for women’s games weren’t very good. In 2019, to pick a typical year, about four million people watched Baylor beat Notre Dame for the women’s championship title, whereas nearly twenty million watched the University of Virginia’s men’s team beat Texas Tech. The discrepancy was so great that its meaning seemed obvious, at least to most people. You could argue about whether people’s preferences reflected an ideal world, but it was harder to argue with facts.

Those kinds of comparative figures were often used to justify, in one way or another, the gargantuan television contract that CBS and Turner paid for the men’s N.C.A.A. basketball championship and the pittance that ESPN paid for the women’s tournament, which was packaged with the rest of the channel’s N.C.A.A. sports deals. It was why the men got to use the March Madness branding and the women were not allowed. It was why the phrase “college basketball” always meant men’s college basketball, why men were always the default. It was why the Final Four was aired on network television, whereas the women’s final was on cable. It was why the weight room for the women at the 2021 N.C.A.A. tournament consisted of a stack of hand weights and a few yoga mats and the men were set up with a huge array of machines. Plenty of people thought that these differences were unfair—a TikTok video comparing the two weight rooms went viral—but they reflected what people seemed willing to pay for, the argument went at the time. Wasn’t that, in the usual arrangement of things, fair?

But numbers can be hazardous: they don’t always mean what they seem. After that viral TikTok, the N.C.A.A. commissioned a gender-equity review, which highlighted those disparities and many more. That review suggested what we now know is true: the logic that was read into ratings was backward. Television viewership actually reflected, in part, inequalities in promotion and internal attention given to the men’s and women’s tournaments, not their inherent values. The lack of resources devoted to the women’s game wasn’t an inevitable consequence of the game’s popularity—it was a choice. And that, in turn, suggested that it was possible to make a different choice: that, if the women’s game were treated with the same level of promotion and investment and hype as the men’s game, people would watch it, too.

Last Monday, more than twelve million people watched the University of Iowa beat Louisiana State University in the N.C.A.A. tournament’s Elite Eight, shattering ESPN’s record viewership for women’s basketball. The mark it broke had been set a year ago, when ten million people watched L.S.U. beat Iowa to win the title. Monday’s game had more viewers than any Major League Baseball game last year, including any of the World Series games, and it had more viewers than all but one of the N.B.A. Finals games, too. It had higher ratings than any N.H.L. game in more than fifty years. More people watched the women play that game than watched any regular-season college-football game last year, except for Ohio State versus Michigan.

Lately, the old claim about popularity has been reversed: no one watches the men, or so it goes. That’s not strictly true; an Elite Eight men’s game between Duke and N.C. State, two teams that have been building rabid fan bases for seventy-five years, drew a bigger audience than Iowa-L.S.U. (It’s notable that the men’s game aired on network television; the women were still on cable.) But it certainly feels that way. This season, the biggest phenomenon in all of college sports, football included, is Iowa’s superstar Caitlin Clark , and it’s not particularly close. If you discount the sons of a few of the world’s most famous athletes—Shedeur Sanders, Bronny James—L.S.U.’s Angel Reese might have a claim to being the second-biggest college star at the moment. And, if you restrict it to college basketball, the third, fourth, and maybe fifth most prominent players are probably women as well.

“Name five guys in college right now, P.,” Kevin Garnett, the N.B.A. legend, recently said to his old teammate and fellow Hall of Famer Paul Pierce, on a podcast, before the start of the N.C.A.A. tournament. Pierce slumped back in his seat, an etched glass in hand. His eyes flickered behind his shades. “I don’t know,” he replied after a long silence. “I don’t even know who the top player in college is. Who’s the top player?” “I don’t know,” Garnett said, with a shake of his head. “I know the girls!” “I know the girls,” Pierce agreed, and they reeled off their names: Clark, Reese, the University of Connecticut’s Paige Bueckers, the University of South Carolina coach Dawn Staley, U.S.C.’s freshman JuJu Watkins. “Women’s college basketball is fucking electric, lord,” Garnett said. “It is blowing the guys’ game out of the water.”

Iowa has been breaking audience records all season, which makes sense: Clark is a transformative talent who can score at will from anywhere past the half-court line, and do it with rousing flair and a competitive scowl. A friend recently mentioned how he’d seen a crowd at a bar go strangely quiet as she drained deep shot after deep shot: it was the hush of attentive awe. These days, Clark is inescapable. Nike put her on a billboard in Times Square. She’s in ads for Gatorade, State Farm, Xfinity. Goldman Sachs featured her in a lobbying campaign. She could lift the game by herself. What’s remarkable is that she hasn’t done it alone.

Everyone knew Monday’s game would be a big draw. No other matchup has been so hyped all year. It featured not only Clark, but also Reese and L.S.U.’s flamboyant, controversial coach, Kim Mulkey. It was a rematch of last year’s title game, which had ended with a controversy about taunting that played out in public arguments with obvious racial undertones. And then the game began, and it was more than anyone could have hoped for: fast-paced, tense, and with stunning performances by the game’s biggest stars. Reese had twenty rebounds. Clark hit nine threes, on her way to forty-one points and twelve assists. And, for good measure, L.S.U.’s dazzling guard Flau’jae Johnson nearly stole the show.

It was what happened next, though, that suggested something more fundamental had changed. Caitlin Clark left the floor, and people still watched. The game that followed Iowa versus L.S.U., between U.S.C. and Connecticut, started after 9 P.M. on the East Coast. It still drew more than six million viewers, peaking with more than ten million. That game was less frenetic, less intense, but the level of play was more consistent. It featured two highly skilled teams with a matchup of recognizable stars—for much of the game, Bueckers was guarding Watkins, or Walkin’ Buckets, as Garnett called her. In the past decade, basketball has changed in ways that are well suited to the women’s game: three-point shooting is emphasized, with the players spread out across the floor; the pace is fast, so big players who can dribble and move and pass are at a premium. Neither the men’s nor the women’s game is still played in tight scrums around the rim, and no one seems to care anymore that women don’t often dunk.

Watching both Watkins and Bueckers, I was struck by how technically sound both players are—how smoothly they move, how versatile they are. Watkins finished the game with twenty-nine points and ten rebounds; Bueckers finished with twenty-eight and ten. But only Bueckers was moving on to the Final Four, her third. At the end of the game, Watkins, who is only eighteen years old, was in tears. Bueckers—who had been a phenom herself as a freshman, the national player of the year, before tearing her A.C.L. and watching Clark surpass her as the game’s best player—went to Watkins and whispered something in her ear. That was one more answer to why the game has become so popular. It’s not only the competitive performances of great players under immense pressure, but a sense of intimacy, an awareness that we are only in the middle of their long and still unfolding stories.

And, for all that, the Final Four hadn’t even begun. It took place on Friday night. In the first game, the University of South Carolina rode a strong third quarter surge to a rout, beating N.C. State. South Carolina went undefeated in the regular season last year before being upset by Iowa in the tournament. They then lost all five of their starters, and no one knew what to expect from them this year. But the Gamecocks’ coach, Dawn Staley, led them to another undefeated season. Staley is as big a star as any player—exacting, outspoken, fiercely principled—and has her own rivalries, most notably with Connecticut’s legendary coach Geno Auriemma. Against N.C. State, wearing a cropped Louis Vuitton leather jacket and her characteristic expression, somewhere between a wink and a glare, she installed a game plan that was both simple and flawless: feed the ball to the team’s center Kamilla Cardoso, who would not miss.

As the second game, between Iowa and Connecticut began, it struck me that I’d never seen Clark play badly in a big moment. Then, in the first half on Friday, she missed all six of her three-point attempts. The game was ugly, with thirty turnovers between the two teams, including several at key moments—plus questionable officiating and a level of physicality that seemed on the edge of chaos. Connecticut’s defense swarmed Clark, and she struggled to shake loose of the defenders who hounded her. But she kept Iowa in the game even as she struggled to score, throwing precise outlet passes to her teammates. At the start of the fourth quarter, with the game tied at fifty-one, Clark went on a run, and Iowa held on to eke out a two-point win.

The broadcast featured knowledgeable, engaging announcers; a sparkling, savvy studio crew doing the halftime report; and an alternate broadcast hosted by two of the greatest players ever, Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi. The days of the hand weights seem long ago. It was tempting to wonder what things might be like now had ESPN treated women’s basketball this way all along. After all, the audience records that are being broken now were set in the nineteen-eighties and nineties, when the games were on network television, before ESPN bought the rights and buried them. But, as the game wound down, and Clark held the ball out-of-bounds with just more than a second remaining, and Iowa up by one, I was reminded that, however important promotion and presentation may be, it’s the players who are driving the new interest in the game. Clark quickly threw the ball off Buecker’s legs while Bueckers had her back to her, effectively killing the clock. It wasn’t the prettiest way to win a basketball game, but it didn’t need to be. It was thrilling to watch. ♦

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When college women basketball players began to post photos and videos of how they got less food , less accurate COVID-19 testing and less exercise equipment in the NCAA March Madness Tournament bubbles than their male counterparts, a sense of collective outrage ensued.

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, a Democrat from New York, tweeted out: “This is outrageous – but it’s not just about the weight room. From their facilities, to their food, to giving them less reliable COVID tests, the women’s NCAA basketball teams are being shortchanged.”

Sabrina Ionescu , the star Women’s National Basketball Association player with the New York Liberty, added : “Women’s @NCAA bubble weight room vs Men’s weight room… thought this was a joke. WTF is this?!? To all the women playing in the @marchmadness tournament, keep grinding!”

Natasha Cloud, a WNBA star with the Washington Mystics, was equally outraged , having tweeted: “Don’t worry @ncaawbb @marchmadness @NCAA we see what and who yall value. Title 9.”

Dan Gavitt, NCAA vice president for basketball, has apologized , but several college women’s basketball coaches say the situation is part of a long-standing pattern of unfair treatment for college women athletes.

As researchers who study inequities in college sports and Title IX – the federal law meant to, among other things, curtail such inequities – we, too, believe that the March Madness debacle is just the latest episode in what at times seems like an entrenched culture of unfair treatment for women athletes .

As Muffet McGraw, former University of Notre Dame women’s head basketball coach, tweeted , “the fact that there’s a huge disparity between men’s and women’s sports is hardly breaking news. We have been fighting this battle for years.”

Indeed, the fight for equity throughout women’s sport has been a battle for decades .

A long-standing problem

Previous research demonstrates how the NCAA leadership routinely provides women with fewer resources. Men’s sports , athletes , coaches and events have always been the association’s priority .

For starters, female athletes were not provided consistent opportunities to participate in sports until the passage of Title IX in 1972 . Among other things, the landmark legislation prohibits sex-based discrimination in extracurricular activities within schools that receive federal funding. Once women did receive competitive opportunities, they still faced discrimination , sexism and stereotyping .

Men outnumber women throughout sport leadership positions . Consequently, the decision-making processes are mostly controlled by men. Walter Beyers , the first executive director of the NCAA, fought to get intercollegiate sports exempted from Title IX regulation.

“The NCAA became concerned by what it perceived to be the potential weakening of its position as the dominant and controlling body of intercollegiate athletics,” Richard C. Bell wrote in article about the history of women in college sports before Title IX. “If Title IX was to apply to intercollegiate sports at all levels and women were to be elevated to a status equal to the men, its financial assets and political power were threatened.”

Legal questions

Across social media, some questioned why Title IX does not apply to the NCAA and the March Madness disparities.

However, in 1999, the U.S. Supreme Court held in NCAA v. Smith that the NCAA was not subject to Title IX because it was not a direct recipient of federal financial assistance. Title IX applies only to educational programs that receive federal financial assistance. As the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, writing for the unanimous court, stated in the decision: “Dues payments from recipients of federal funds … do not suffice to render the dues recipient subject to Title IX.”

While the NCAA is not subject to Title IX, that does not let schools off the hook . Therefore, once schools were made aware of the disparities between amenities and services provided by the NCAA, they had a legal obligation to determine whether this disparity was justified under Title IX .

[ You’re smart and curious about the world. So are The Conversation’s authors and editors. You can get our highlights each weekend .]

In fact, institutions and teams were made aware of the facility and equipment disparities within the women’s bubble via the NCAA Tournament Manual . The NCAA did not plan to provide the women’s teams with a full weight room until the Sweet Sixteen, which is set to take place on March 27 .

University of Georgia women’s basketball head coach Joni Taylor confirmed this in her statement to the media revealing that their staff had to make their own arrangements for workouts and meals before arriving at the tournament bubble.

So while the disparities for female athletes are not new or shocking, perhaps, in the words of Dawn Staley, a storied player and the current coach of the 2017 NCAA Women’s Basketball Champions South Carolina, it is time “ for the NCAA to reevaluate the value they place on women .”

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History of Women's Basketball in America

A Timeline of Women's Basketball History 1891 to Present

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Women's basketball began the year after the game was invented. The history of women's basketball success is a long one: collegiate and professional teams, intercollegiate competitions (and their critics) as well as the sad history of many failed attempts at professional leagues; women's basketball at the Olympics. It's all here in this timeline.

Early Years: 1891-1914

The early years of women's basketball were characterized by the creation of the first women's team, first women's college game, and even the first article about the sport.

James Naismith invented basket ball [sic] at a Massachusetts YMCA school
first women's basketball team organized by Senda Berenson at Smith College, adapting Naismith's rules to emphasize cooperation, with three zones and six players on each team
first women's college basketball game played at Smith College ; no men were admitted to the game (March 21)
women's basketball began at Iowa State College, Carleton College, Mount Holyoke College, and Sophie Newcomb College (Tulane) in New Orleans; each year more schools added women's basketball to their sports offerings for girls
Senda Berenson published an article on women's basketball and its benefits in the Physical Education journal

Basketball was being played at many women's colleges, including Vassar College, Bryn Mawr College, and Wellesley College

Baer published rules for women's "Basquette"
Bloomers introduced as a playing costume at Sophie Newbomb College, New Orleans
Stanford and the University of California at Berkeley played the first women's intercollegiate game; Stanford won, 2-1, and men were excluded, with women guarding the windows and doors to exclude men
first known women's basketball game between two high schools was played in the Chicago area, with Chicago Austin High School against Oak Park High School
Conference of Physical Training established a committee to form uniform rules for women's basket ball [sic]
Stanford banned women's basketball from intercollegiate competition, as did the University of California
University of California at Berkeley was given an outdoor basketball court for women by philanthropist Phoebe Hearst
Spalding issued women's basketball rules, edited by Senda Berenson, establishing 3 zones with 5-10 players per team; some teams used men's rules, some used Baer's rules, and some used Spalding's/Berenson's rules
A Native American team played women's basketball at the St. Louis World's Fair, as an exhibition
AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) took the position that women or girls should not play basketball in public
The American Olympic Committee declared its opposition to the participation of women in the Olympics competition

Development of the Sport: 1920–1938

The 1920s and 1930s saw the emergence of industrial leagues, with teams comprised of company employees, the inclusion of women's basketball in the Olympics, and the emergence of two rival Black women's basketball barnstorming teams.

industrial leagues -- teams sponsored by companies for their workers -- were established in many parts of the country
Jeux Olympiques Féminines held in Monaco, an all-women's sports competition for sports excluded from the Olympics; sports included basketball, track and field; Britain's team won the basketball event
Jeux Olympiques Féminines held, an all-women's sports competition for sports excluded from the Olympics; sports included basketball, track and field
Women's Division of the National Amateur Athletic Federation (WDNAAF) held its first conference; over the next few years, it will take on women's extramural basketball and other sports as too competitive, working to get high schools, industrial leagues, and even churches to ban tournaments
Olympics included women's basketball -- as an exhibition event
International Women's Sports Federation founded, hosted a women's event paralleling the Olympics, including basketball
AAU held the first national tournament for women's basketball, with six teams participating
AAU National Women's Basketball Tournament canceled under pressure from the WDNAAF; Sunoco Oilers (Dallas) declared AAU national champions
AAU National Women's Basketball Tournament canceled for the second year under pressure from the WDNAAF; Sunoco Oilers (Dallas) declared AAU national champions (again)
AAU selected the first AAU All-America team
AAU re-started national championship tournament; Sunoco Oilers won, defeating the Golden Cyclones; a beauty contest was part of the event
AAU national championship included 28 teams; Sunoco Oilers won, defeating the Golden Cyclones
Isadore Channels (of the Chicago Romas team) and Ora Mae Washington (of the Philadelphia Tribunes) starred in two rival Black women's basketball barnstorming teams; both women were also American Tennis Association title winners
WDNAAF continued to pressure states to ban women's basketball tournaments, with success in many states
Golden Cyclones won AAU Championship, led by "Babe" Didrikson
three zones reduced to two in women's competition

Advancement of the Game: 1940s–1979

The period during World War II through the late 1970s saw many advancements in women's basketball, from a reorganization of the sport's international competition to the inclusion of women's basketball in the Paralympics, and the enactment of Title IX, requiring federally-funded schools to fund women's sports, including basketball.

during World War II, competition and recreation basketball was common; relocation centers for Japanese Americans, for instance, included regularly scheduled women's basketball games
international competition in women's basketball was reorganized
first Pan-American Games included women's basketball; USA won the gold medal
Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (ICAW) held an invitational basketball tournament, the first national tournament not including AAU teams; West Chester State won the championship
women's basketball was included in the Paralympics
five player full court game adopted for women's basketball
Title IX enacted, requiring federally-funded schools to fund women's sports equitably, including teams, scholarships, recruitment, and media coverage
Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) held the first national intercollegiate championship in basketball; Immaculata defeated West Chester
AAU established national basketball tournaments for girls younger than college age
college scholarships offered to female athletes for the first time
Amateur Basketball Association of the United States (ABAUSA) established, replacing AAU
US Olympic Committee recognized the ABAUSA
Billie Jean King founded the Women's Sports Foundation, to promote sports and physical activity among girls
women's basketball became an Olympic sport; the Soviet team won the gold, USA won the silver
Wade Trophy established to honor a top collegiate player; first awarded to Carol Blazejowski
Bill Byrne founded the 8-team Women's Basketball League (WBL)
WBL expanded to 14 teams

Increasing Professional Presence: The 1980s

The 1980s ushered in an era of increased professional status for women's basketball as well as major developments in the sport at the college level. And the U.S. women's basketball team even won the gold twice at the Summer Olympics during the decade.

Ladies Professional Basketball Association founded with six teams; played for less than a month before failing
first USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year Award went to Carol Blazejowski
Olympics held but many nations boycotted, led by the USA
WBL played its last season
Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) begins
NCAA announced women's basketball tournaments; AIAW filed an antitrust suit in opposition
final AIAW tournament held; AIAW dropped the lawsuit against the NCAA and disbanded
first NCAA women's basketball Final Four championship held
Olympics women's basketball event won by USA team, with the USSR and some other nations boycotting
Women's American Basketball Association (WABA) formed, with six teams; it was, like most of the women's professional basketball leagues, short-lived
Lynette Woodard began playing with the Harlem Globetrotters, the first woman to play with that team
Senda Berenson Abbott, L. Margaret Wade, and Bertha F. Teague were inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the first women to be so honored
National Women's Basketball Association (NWBA) founded; folded the same season
Naismith Hall of Fame initiated Female High School Player of the Year award
Olympics women's basketball event won by USA team

A New League: The 1990s

The 1990s included the recognition of a women's basketball coach with a major award for the first time as well as the founding and expanion of the WNBA.

Pat Summit was the first woman to be awarded the John Bunn Award by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
WBL disbanded
Liberty Basketball Association (LBA) founded, and lasted one game, broadcast on ESPN
Howard University women's basketball coach became the first woman to win monetary damages under Title IX, for discrimination
Nera White, who played with the Nashville Business College team, and Lusia (Lucy) Harris (Harris-Stewart) were inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Women's Basketball Association (WBA) founded
Ann Meyers and Ulyana Semjonova inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Carol Blazejowski inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Women's Basketball Association (WBA) failed
American Basketball League (ABL) founded with ten teams
players Anne Donovan and Cheryl Miller inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
NBA established the WNBA with eight teams; Sheryl Swoopes was the first player signed by the WNBA
Nancy Lieberman inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
first WNBA game played
WNBA added two more teams
players Joan Crawford and Denise Curry inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
WNBA expanded by two teams
Women's Basketball Hall of Fame opened with 25 inductees
WNBA expanded by four teams for the 2000 season

More Gold, More Glory: The 2000s and Beyond

The USA women's basketball team captured another gold medal a the summer Olympics to start the new millenium and the WNBA marked its first decade during this period.

Olympics held in Sydney, Australia; USA team won gold medal; Teresa Edwards became the first basketball player to play on five consecutive Olympic teams and win five Olympic medals
National Women's Basketball Professional League (NWBL) founded
Pat Head Summitt (coach) inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Sandra Kay Yow (coach) inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Ashley McElhiney became the first woman head coach for a men's professional basketball team (ABA, Nashville Rhythm); she resigned in 2005 with a 21-10 record
Lynette Woodard inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Hortencia Marcari and Sue Gunter (LSU coach) inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
WNBA celebrated its 10th year by announcing an All-Decade Team, selected by fans, media, and current players and coaches.
Cathy Rush inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Signing a 7-day WNBA contract, Nancy Lieberman returned to play in a single game
Lynette Woodard
Biography of James Naismith, Inventor of Basketball
Key African American Women in Sports
5 Outstanding Black Women Tennis Champions
James Naismith: The Canadian Inventor of Basketball
Biography of Lucy Stone, Abolitionist and Women's Rights Reformer
A Brief History of Sports
The Original 13 Rules of Basketball
Black History and Women's Timeline: 1950–1959
John Baxter Taylor: the First African-American Gold Medalist
Biography of Althea Gibson
Basketball Printables
Black History and Women's Timeline: 1920-1929
Joan Benoit
Vocabulary Building With Collocation Lists of Sports
History of the 1960 Olympics in Rome, Italy

Title: Can Women’s Basketball Sustain its March Madness Success? A Sports Management Professor Answers.

This story is a part of our “Ask a Professor” series, in which Georgetown faculty break down complex issues and use their research to inform trending conversations, from the latest pop culture hits to research breakthroughs and critical global events shaping our world.

Women’s college basketball is entering a new era.

Powered by superstars like Iowa’s Caitlin Clark and LSU’s Angel Reese, ticket prices to this year’s women’s tournament have eclipsed ticket prices for the men’s tournament. In this weekend’s women’s Final Four, ticket prices are more than double that of the men’s Final Four.

In the Elite Eight championship rematch between Iowa and Louisiana State University, a peak of 16 million fans tuned in as the Hawkeyes got their revenge over the Tigers, making it the most-watched college basketball game ever on ESPN platforms.

So how exactly has women’s basketball managed its meteoric ascent, especially since men’s basketball has typically received more resources and attention?

“There has been a continuous and concerted effort to promote and elevate women’s sports,” said La Quita Frederick , faculty director and associate professor of the practice in the Sports Industry Management program in the School of Continuing Studies.

“Superstars like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have undoubtedly captured the attention of fans with their exceptional skills and performances … This is not just an anomaly but rather the beginning of a new era,” Frederick said.

To better understand the rise of women’s basketball, read Frederick’s takes on women’s basketball’s March Madness success and how the sports industry can keep the momentum of women’s athletics going.

Ask a Professor: La Quita Frederick on March Madness, NIL and the Future of Women’s Sports

Historically, viewership and demand for women’s sports across all sports at the professional and college levels have been dwarfed by men’s sports. why is that.

One key factor is that culturally competitive sports have been primarily associated with men which has shaped societal perceptions and expectations. Another key factor is that men’s sports have historically benefited from greater investment and infrastructure, including funding, facilities and support at various levels of competition. Additionally, men’s sports typically have received more airtime, resources and marketing efforts from major broadcasting networks and sports channels. As such, media coverage and exposure have played a significant role. This greater visibility has contributed to higher levels of interest and engagement among audiences. These key factors have collectively and cumulatively contributed to the disparity in viewership between men’s and women’s sports.

Above and beyond those key factors, competitive and organized women’s team sports such as basketball and soccer are still relatively young compared to their counterparts. After all, the NCAA was founded in 1906, the NFL in 1920, and the NBA in 1946. In 1972, Title IX federal legislation was a significant catalyst and turning point for women’s competitive sports at the college level.

Nearly a decade later, in 1981, the NCAA and its governing body approved a plan to include women’s athletics programs and services for its membership. With a more institutional support and organizational structure, women’s sports and teams were established across the nation including the WNBA in 1996 — a full 50 years after the NBA and 15 after the NCAA officially included women’s collegiate athletics. Although 50 years in the making, the strategic efforts to promote gender equity and increase visibility for women’s sports are gradually narrowing the gap.

Sponsorship patterns and commercialization trends further reinforce this gap, with companies traditionally favoring men’s sports for investment due to perceived higher returns. Marketing strategies often align with traditional gender stereotypes, hindering the appeal and visibility of women’s sports. Access barriers, cultural representations and regional variations also contribute to disparities, alongside technological advancements that offer new avenues for promoting gender equity in sports viewership. Addressing these multifaceted factors requires sustained efforts to challenge existing norms, increase representation and leverage digital platforms to cultivate a more inclusive sports culture.

Why are more people watching women’s basketball this year than in years past? Is this year’s surge in popularity just an anomaly with superstars like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, or will this trend continue?

The increase in viewership for women’s basketball in recent years can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, there has been a continuous and concerted effort to promote and elevate women’s sports, resulting in greater visibility and coverage across various media platforms with social media by far being the most effective. This increased exposure has helped challenge stereotypes and showcase the high level of talent and competition in women’s basketball.

Additionally, the growing success of women’s basketball programs, both at the collegiate and professional levels, has drawn more attention and interest from fans. Superstars like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have undoubtedly captured the attention of fans with their exceptional skills and performances, generating excitement and enthusiasm for the sport. Additionally, these players have high profiles and very lucrative name, image, and likeness (NIL) that have given them additional exposure and visibility beyond your classic, niche women’s basketball fans, including national commercials, feature stories and guest appearances through mainstream medium outlets.

T his is not just an anomaly but rather the beginning of a new era. There is now greater investment and infrastructure, including funding, facilities and support at various levels of competition. In 2010, ESPNW was launched to encompass a website, signature events and specialty coverage for women sports. In 2022, the NCAA approved the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament to use the March Madness branding across the collegiate spectrum. At the professional level, the WNBA Las Vegas Aces are not only back-to-back WNBA Champions but the first WNBA franchise to have a dedicated headquarters, training facility and venue not shared with their NBA counterparts. If women’s basketball continues to be prioritized and supported, the potential for the upward trajectory of the sport will continue in the coming years.

T his is not just an anomaly but rather the beginning of a new era. La Quita Frederick

Is women’s basketball seeing a surge in the U.S. mainly, or is this a growing global trend?

While the U.S. has traditionally been a powerhouse in women’s basketball, other countries around the world are increasingly investing in and developing their women’s basketball programs. After all, women’s basketball players have been playing professionally overseas in other leagues and during the offseason. Countries in Europe, Asia and Oceania, among others, have seen significant growth in women’s basketball participation, competition and fan engagement.

This global expansion is fueled by various factors, including increased opportunities for women athletes, greater investment in infrastructure and coaching, and growing recognition of the talent and competitiveness of women’s basketball. Therefore, while the surge in popularity may be particularly noticeable in the United States, it reflects a broader global trend towards greater recognition and appreciation of women’s basketball. Women’s sports, including women’s basketball, is on an upward trajectory.

Is this success in college women’s basketball being replicated in other sports? How?

The rising success and popularity of women’s college basketball are mirrored in various other sports, albeit through diverse channels and to varying extents. One significant factor contributing to this trend is the increased attention and media coverage given to women athletes across different sports. As women’s college basketball gains traction, other sports like soccer, volleyball, softball and gymnastics are also experiencing heightened visibility through expanded coverage by leagues, governing bodies and media outlets.

Moreover, the emergence of professional opportunities for women athletes is closely linked to their success in college sports. This progression creates a pathway for talented athletes to compete at the professional level, fostering growth and investment in professional leagues both domestically and internationally. Additionally, a broader cultural shift toward supporting women athletes and advocating for gender equity in sports has propelled the popularity of various women’s sports beyond college basketball.

Digital platforms and social media have also played a pivotal role in amplifying the voices and achievements of women athletes across different sports, enabling them to engage directly with fans and build their personal brands. Furthermore, international success in global competitions such as the Olympics and World Championships has elevated the profiles of women’s teams and attracted attention to their respective sports on a global scale.

How has NIL affected the popularity of women’s sports relative to men’s sports?

NIL has the potential to significantly impact the popularity of women’s sports relative to men’s sports in several ways. First and foremost, NIL allows athletes, regardless of gender, to profit from their own name, image and likeness. This opens up new avenues for women athletes to monetize their talents and build their personal brands, which can enhance their visibility and attract more fans. However, the full impact of NIL on women’s sports popularity will depend on various factors, including the extent of endorsement opportunities, media coverage and continued efforts to promote gender equity in sports.

Moreover, NIL offers distinct advantages for women athletes and teams compared to their male counterparts. One key advantage is the opportunity for women athletes to build their personal brands independently, addressing historical disparities in media coverage and investment. Women dominate as consumers and strongly influence purchase decisions individually and collectively in their households. Through NIL, women athletes can showcase their personalities and interests, attracting endorsement deals that reflect their individual identities.

Additionally, NIL empowers women’s sports by enabling athletes to generate revenue and support their athletic endeavors. By monetizing their talents, women athletes challenge stereotypes about the profitability of women’s sports and assert their economic agency. Furthermore, NIL can drive cultural change by reinforcing the value of women’s sports and promoting diversity and inclusion.

How do you feel personally about this surge in interest in women’s basketball?

Personally, I am loving it because I always knew the women’s game was competitive, entertaining and exceptionally talented. As an undergraduate at NC State University, my suitemates were women’s basketball players. I remember going to NC State women’s basketball games including games against our ACC opponents.

When I still worked in college athletics, I oversaw the marketing for the NC State’s women’s basketball program. Not only was NC State a nationally ranked team with occasional sellouts long before the age of social media, streaming, etc., but they were coached by the legendary Naismith Hall of Fame and former Olympics Coach Kay Yow. It was my pleasure to work for them, and with them, including being the co-creator of Hoops for Hope, which is the direct predecessor for what is now known nationally as Play 4 Kay.

When I worked for the Orlando Magic fresh out of graduate school, I also had the opportunity to work at the first-ever WNBA Draft Camp held at the ESPN Disney Wide World of Sports. I saw the first WNBA superstars like Sheryl Swoopes, Tina Thompson, Cynthia Miller, etc., and some of them have gone on to coach. I have witnessed this “overnight” success story unfold over the past 25+ years. I was not a player or a coach but I was working behind the scenes of the business at every stage of women’s basketball growth both at the collegiate and professional levels of the game. Quite honestly, it is very special to me personally and professionally to have been a part of history in the making and knowing many of those and all of the efforts to arrive at this moment in time.

Who are you rooting for in the NCAA tournament?

Who am I rooting for?! That’s an easy answer. I am originally from North Carolina, so I was born and bred to love Tobacco Road basketball and all things ACC. More importantly, I am a proud graduate of NC State University and a former associate director of marketing for the NC State Department of Athletics, so I’m all in for my Wolfpack family given both our men’s and women’s basketball teams are in their respective Final Fours this year. As for me, I’m “Red & White for Life” so GO PACK, LIGHT IT RED, and WHY NOT US? Or rather, WHY NOT BOTH?

After a Season Starting With Loss, Women’s Basketball Coach Darnell Haney Ends on a High Note

Journalism Showcase: Women’s College Basketball Continues To Shine A Light On Powerful Voices And Moments Through Storytelling

"if you care about a team or a player, you will be more invested in how they play. these women have incredible stories . . . ".

ESPN’s women’s college basketball team recognizes the moment we’re in – growing popularity of the sport, athletes using their platforms to bring viewers in, the fight for social justice and against inequities, and stretching their voices beyond the time they spend on the court.

As the Women’s Final Four tips off tonight in San Antonio, the stories – and their power – are what complement the culmination of this unique and sometimes challenging season, as four teams play for their chance to be a national champion.

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“The inequities brought light to the women’s tournament, but the incredible athletes and competitive play are what kept the attention,” said Kate Jackson , ESPN coordinating producer. “The goal of all storytelling is to create an emotional response in the viewer. If you care about a team or a player, you will be more invested in how they play. These women have incredible stories of strength and resilience.”

Aimee Stokes , senior managing producer of ESPN’s Creative Content Unit, has worked on women’s tournament for the last 10 years. Stokes credits ongoing conversations for how the team approaches each feature and vignette.

“When our staff members are in meetings and say ‘this story is important to us as Black women, gay women, because I’m from the South, played ball, I was raised this way, or as a millennial, etc.,’ we recognize their point of view or life experience, and we are listening, because they could also be the experiences and stories of our athletes and viewers,” Stokes said.

She added: “We always try to find not just a shot, but the shot to tell the story. Some of our camera angles and access has been limited because of safety restrictions, but with the help of the schools’ video departments, I think the pieces look elevated despite some of those limitations … Everyone has a story, and while we’d love to tell them all ourselves on TV, we also have the opportunity to be multi-platform storytellers through social media, streaming and other digital avenues.”

Over the weekend, fans will witness and celebrate greatness, and learn more about the incredible student-athletes and coaches making history.

Here are some of the stories expected to air during Women’s Final Four coverage:

Black women making history : This year marks the first time that two Black female head coaches are in the Women’s Final Four – Dawn Staley and Adia Barnes. As a historic and pivotal moment in sports, the team will honor it, document it, and celebrate it. ESPN and SEC Network analyst Carolyn Peck , the first Black head coach to win an NCAA Division I Women’s Final Four championship (Purdue, 1999) , shares in this history and will be an important voice in elevating the story.
Love it or hate it, people love the UConn Huskies . Coverage will include their 13th consecutive Final Four appearance, their quest for a 12th national title, and superstar freshman Paige “Buckets” Bueckers.
Due to COVID restrictions, Stanford spent 63 days on the road this season when Santa Clara County shut down sports activities . Despite the challenge, the No.1 overall seed is back in the Final Four and eyeing a third national title. “It speaks so highly to their team chemistry and to [head coach] Tara VanDerveer’s leadership and that of her staff. She is now the winningest coach in women’s history, and when you wrap that all up, you can’t help but say, ‘This is a story we need to share,'” Stokes added.
With Barnes leading the way, Arizona – the “underdog'”– has prevailed with its first trip to the Women’s Final Four . Barnes’ own playing career success – Arizona’s leading scorer and champion with the Seattle Storm – speaks to her team’s success and being a players’ coach. As a head coach and a mother of two kids, she is showing women everywhere what’s possible. And if you haven’t seen Aari McDonald play, you are missing out.

One thing is certain – all of these women have cemented the power their voices hold, and ESPN will set the stage to convey that message.

Stokes added: “Like I said earlier … we listen. We bring their voices into pieces to tell the viewer, ‘Here is who these people are, and this is what is important to them.’ These are their stories.”

Sunday’s SportsCenter “SC Featured” segment examines how the song “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” went from a 1969 hit by Steam to a mainstay across sports stadiums and arenas. Its introduction into sports is credited to Nancy Faust, an organist for the Chicago White Sox. When an opposing starter was pulled from the game, Faust played the song. When the White Sox won, she’d play the song. The usage migrated from Chicago across the country to become the standard anthem of taunting opponents. The feature will debut in the 8 a.m. ET hour of SportsCenter and re-air in other editions afterward.

— Andy Hall

The SEC had seven Black women Head Coaches in their women’s basketball programs this season, a number which leads the Power 5 conference. “When you see us, you be us,” said LSU head coach Nikki Fargas. Diversity for the win! #WhenWomenLead https://t.co/IasGvZEQZt — Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) March 29, 2021

Photographing and working with these two while they played high school ball in Minneapolis was an absolute dream. Now they are two of the best college players in the country, each competing for a national title. Another great piece from @katie_barnes3 https://t.co/Wu7dv7DLYu — Bri Lewerke (@brilewerke) March 18, 2021

Must read-Thank you Tara! Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer on her decades-long love affair with basketball and her fight for equality https://t.co/dZyUePSm29 — Trina Patterson (@CoachTPatt) March 28, 2021

If Stanford plays 40 minutes at that second-half level, Tara VanDerveer might finally get that third national title. https://t.co/KqCbE1NiJH — C and R (@StanfordWBBBlog) April 1, 2021

"I think there needs to be more WNBA players coaching women's basketball. I want to see more." — Arizona coach Adia Barnes https://t.co/1G1q936FSM — ESPN Women's Hoops (@ESPN_WomenHoop) March 30, 2021

– Mike Skarka

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Journalism Showcase: Outside the Lines Recognizes 20-Year Anniversary Of Pat Tillman’s Death With New Reporting, Interviews

History Of Women's Basketball Essay

In the late 19th century, a thirty-one year old graduate, James Naismith, with great vision to create an indoor pastime was given that very opportunity. Inside the gymnasium of Springfield College, formally known as International YMCA training school, the sport of Basketball was created. With nothing but a few active college students, a soccer ball, two peach baskets as goals, and thirteen rules to govern thus giving birth to basketball. News of the 30 minute game began to rapidly spread and it was an instant success.

Without the well-represented international background of the college, basketball would not have been introduced to many places around the world.James Naismith invented basketball in December of 1891. Less than one year later, women physical education students at Smith College were introduced to the game.

Essay Example on Nib History

Soon women were playing the new sport across the country. Fast forward to the early twenty-first century. Women and girls play basketball in parks and recreation leagues, high school, college, in the Olympics, even in the professional Women’s National Basketball Association (Jenkins).

The journey from Smith College to the WNBA, however, was a long and difficult one, full of false starts and broken promises. Almost from the beginning, women were constrained in their opportunities to play basketball. Physical education professionals argued that, “Athletic competition was unladylike and basketball too strenuous for females” (Jenkins). Few colleges fielded intercollegiate teams, and the sport struggled at the high school level. The women who could play were forced to compete under rules that limited their ability to run the entire court.

Proficient in: Basketball

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Basketball was not always a beloved activity for women. With a successful target audience of young male athletes, basketball was faced with the issue of implementation into larger associations such as college or professional sports. Whilst competing with the gender inequality already be…

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Caitlin Clark Hype Will Test the W.N.B.A.’s Television Limits

The docuseries “Full Court Press” closely tracked college stars like Clark and Kamilla Cardoso. Fans who want to follow elite W.N.B.A. rookies could have a tougher time.

Three women smile in front of a backdrop that advertises a docuseries titled “Full Court Press.”

By Emmanuel Morgan

The decision makers for the docuseries “Full Court Press” chose wisely when selecting which women’s college basketball players they would follow for an entire season.

They recruited Caitlin Clark, whose long-distance shots at the University of Iowa made her a lucrative draw. Kamilla Cardoso, a Brazilian attending the University of South Carolina, could provide an international perspective. Kiki Rice, from the University of California, Los Angeles, would be the talented but reserved young prospect.

Those selections proved fortuitous when each player advanced deep into the N.C.A.A. tournament. Clark and Cardoso competed in the most-watched women’s championship game in history before becoming two of the top three picks in the W.N.B.A. draft .

“The way that it turned out, it’s like, ‘This is not real life,’” said Kristen Lappas, the director of the four-part ESPN series that will air on ABC on Saturday and Sunday. “That just doesn’t happen in documentary filmmaking.”

Interest in women’s basketball is surging because of young talent. Clark, Cardoso and other top rookies like Angel Reese and Cameron Brink are providing the W.N.B.A. a vital infusion of star power, quickly obliterating one record when 2.4 million viewers watched April’s draft.

Now the league, whose media rights package expires in 2025, must capitalize by making sure fans can easily follow the players they grew to love during their collegiate careers.

The W.N.B.A. ensured that Clark, who scored the most points in Division I history, would get precious real estate by putting 36 of the Indiana Fever’s 40 regular-season games on national television, including her May 14 debut on the streaming service Disney+.

But although it aired Clark’s first preseason game on its mobile app, it did not broadcast a preseason game between the Chicago Sky and the Minnesota Lynx the same night, preventing fans from watching Cardoso and Reese. When a spectator inside Target Center in Minneapolis livestreamed that game from her phone , it received more than 600,000 views.

Nancy Lough, a sports management professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, said the misstep showed that the league underestimated the heightened interest.

“It’s clear that the product has been suppressed by the marketplace, and now what we’re seeing is the fans are driving a new business model,” she said.

Clark’s emergence as a national sensation has changed all calculations. She recently appeared on “Saturday Night Live,” and many W.N.B.A. teams have relocated their games against the Fever to larger venues to accommodate the increased ticket demand.

In one episode of “Full Court Press,” Clark said she accepted being a catalyst for the sport.

“It’s never something I am trying to do, it’s just because of how I play and the way I act toward people,” she said. “It’s not anything I shy away from, and if that’s what’s going to help move our game forward, then I embrace that.”

To prepare for the influx of talent into the W.N.B.A., the league’s chief marketing officer, Phil Cook, said the organization increased its visibility by buying television ads near the N.C.A.A. tournament. In February, the W.N.B.A. cross-promoted a 3-point-shooting competition between Stephen Curry and Sabrina Ionescu during the weekend of the N.B.A.’s All-Star Game. The event drew 5.4 million viewers , and was considered by many observers as the highlight of the three-day spectacle.

Lough said that although the W.N.B.A. had increasingly provided appointment viewing — such as Thursday night games on Amazon Prime Video — there was still a need for stronger messaging about how to watch games. Broadcasts are scattered across ESPN, ABC, CBS, Prime Video, NBA TV and ION, a television channel owned by Scripps Networks.

“The fans of women’s sports have become adept at searching and finding it — it’s like they’re detectives,” Lough said. “That shouldn’t be the case.”

She added, “I should be able to walk into a sports bar and see the W.N.B.A. on, passively, just like any other sport.”

Last year’s W.N.B.A. season was its most watched in two decades. And documentaries like “Full Court Press” that give fans behind-the-scenes looks at their favorite players, Lough said, may further drive interest and lead to sponsorship investments that fortify the W.N.B.A.’s media ecosystem.

The docuseries was produced by Omaha Productions, the media company started by the former N.F.L. quarterback Peyton Manning, and Words + Pictures, a studio founded by Connor Schell, an executive producer for the acclaimed ESPN documentaries “The Last Dance” and “O.J.: Made in America.”

In a testament to their confidence that “Full Court Press” has broad appeal during this surge in women’s sports, Disney executives decided to premiere the docuseries on network television instead of its narrower ESPN platforms. It was a common-sense decision, said Brian Lockhart, the senior vice president of original content at ESPN.

“We knew there was a rising tide,” he said.

An earlier version of this article misspelled the given name of the founder of the studio Words + Pictures. He is Connor Schell, not Conner.

How we handle corrections

Emmanuel Morgan reports on sports, pop culture and entertainment. More about Emmanuel Morgan

NCAA March Madness drops the ball for women's basketball with sexism outrage

The training facility part of the NCAA Women's Basketball tournament bubble set up.

Aliyah Boston (South Carolina), Paige Bueckers (Connecticut), Dana Evans (Louisville) and Rhyne Howard (Kentucky) arrived at the NCAA's women's March Madness tournament "bubble" in San Antonio this month as part of the NCAA's next generation of stars . These women have earned their chance to dance on the biggest stage in college basketball, with all the pomp and circumstance that come with it.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CMkRJ2LswFp

But there to greet the top women's college basketball players in the country were amenities and accommodations — all provided under the auspices of the NCAA — that were grossly unequal when compared to those offered to their male counterparts at the men's tournament bubble in Indianapolis.

The "weight room" for these Division I athletes consisted of an embarrassing single stack of six pairs of weights and a handful of yoga mats piled on a folding table. The men's side, by comparison, more closely resembles the floor of Planet Fitness.

As images of the weight facilities went viral on social media, other disturbing tidbits slowly came to light. In contrast to the option-rich buffets served in the men's bubble , the women were receiving small pre-packaged meals . The women's teams were also receiving less reliable Covid-19 antigen tests, while the men's teams were receiving the gold standard PCR tests. Even the women's "swag bags" were less impressive. Rather than facilitate full access to the media in a year when coverage has already been stymied by the pandemic, the NCAA further cut costs by opting not to staff the women's tournament with any photographers for the first two rounds. Yet it managed to round up enough photographers to publish thousands of photos of the opening games in the men's tournament.

Here are the differences in amenities/provisions between the Women’s & Men’s NCAA Tournament I’ve seen so far - Weight room/equipment - Food - Swag Bags Photos from: @Cpav15 , @sedonaprince_ , @danhenry3 , @alikershner pic.twitter.com/2YfCeXaJNn — AJ McCord (@AJ_McCord) March 19, 2021

Unable to refute the clear discrepancy in amenities, the NCAA initially hid behind a statement blaming the "controlled environment" of the pandemic and claiming that the discrepancy in the weight facilities was due to a lack of space in the women's bubble. But that was quickly debunked by a video posted by Oregon sophomore Sedona Prince. She put it succinctly: "if you aren't upset about this problem, then you're a part of it."

The NCAA has long been part of the problem. That's because the protections provided by Title IX to shield student-athletes from this sort of disparate treatment do not apply to the NCAA.

You read that right. Over two decades ago, in NCAA v. Smith , the Supreme Court unanimously held that the NCAA is not required to abide by Title IX's rules because it is a nonprofit comprising member colleges and universities, and while most of those institutions receive federal funding, the NCAA does not. The Supreme Court left open the possibility of an instance in which Title IX might apply to the NCAA, but a case has never come along in which a court has ruled as such.

The protections provided by Title IX to shield student-athletes from this sort of disparate treatment do not apply to the NCAA.

In the immediate aftermath of NCAA v. Smith, the NCAA publicly stated its commitment to voluntarily comply with Title IX's mandates, even though it is not legally required to do so. Today, the NCAA proclaims on its website that it strives to establish "an environment that is free of gender bias." But its words do not consistently translate to meaningful action, and the NCAA has exploited this legal loophole for years.

In fact, the NCAA initially met Title IX with great resistance. In the 1970s, the NCAA lobbied hard to restrict the application of Title IX to college athletics, ironically fearing that it would be a hardship on men's teams. In 1976, the NCAA filed an unsuccessful lawsuit challenging the legality of Title IX, claiming that it should never apply to athletic programs.

Although the NCAA has supported women's sports as they have grown in popularity, there is no dispute that the NCAA has never given the women's side the same support it extends to the men. One needs to look no further than the court itself to see that the NCAA has failed to use its most powerful branding tool to promote the women's tournament: the trademark "March Madness" logo, which graces center court for the men's games. Even though no trademark restrictions prohibit the NCAA from using the March Madness branding to promote both the men's and women's tournaments, it has inexplicably decided to use it in the men's tournament only.

Most glaringly, the NCAA has deemed women's basketball consistently unworthy of its biggest financial prize: bonuses paid out to conferences for wins by their teams in the NCAA Tournament, which, in turn, trickle down to the universities and colleges. From 1997 to 2018, the NCAA dished out over a billion dollars to the top five men's conferences (the Big Ten, the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Big 12, the Southeastern Conference and the Pac-12). By comparison, the NCAA has not contributed a penny for a single win in the women's tournament since its inception in 1982.

The likely justification offered by the NCAA for this different treatment? That the women's basketball tournament does not bring in enough revenue. But the NCAA also has failed to disclose what the revenues and costs are for the women's tournament, let alone how they measure up against the men's. Even if the numbers showed that the NCAA cannot economically justify the same level of bonuses for the women's tournament, it has never provided a good-faith reason it could not reward wins in a more limited fashion. Doing so would at least give women some piece of the revenue pie. The NCAA, however, recently confirmed that it is not pushing for any changes in the bonus structure.

As others have argued , the NCAA's refusal to reward the victories of teams in the women's tournament sends the message that it views women's teams as less worthy, at least financially. That message has always been unacceptable. The message sent as a result of the debacle in San Antonio is even more disturbing.

As the NCAA recognizes in its own Title IX guidance document , gender equity is not just about money; it is about benefits and opportunities. This includes benefits for player health, safety and well-being, particularly given that the NCAA decided to move forward with March Madness against the backdrop of a pandemic.

There is nothing remotely equitable about using the most powerful branding to market the men's tournament but not the women's. There is nothing remotely equitable about a handful of free weights versus a full-service fitness center. There is nothing remotely equitable about providing top-tier testing to ensure the health and safety of male student-athletes but relegating the women to the less reliable option (especially given the NCAA's choice to hold the women's tournament in a state that recently threw Covid-19 safety to the wind).

Unsurprisingly, the inequalities in the men's and women's bubbles have been met with significant backlash from players, coaches, fans and the media. The sponsors and investors have also pushed back. Dick's Sporting Goods announced its willingness to bring "truckloads of fitness equipment" to the rescue in San Antonio. Orange Theory Fitness similarly offered to open its studios for private sessions and to deliver floor and weight equipment.

These companies understand what the NCAA apparently remains ignorant of: Women's sports have value, especially in the commercial marketplace, and that value increases with investment, opportunity and support. The numbers and increasing viewership of the women's game substantiate this conclusion. In 2019, ticket sales surged across the country during the regular season. A sellout crowd and 3.6 million viewers watched the 2019 women's championship game, driving ESPN to broadcast every women's game this season for the first time.

In response to its public shaming, the NCAA remedied the weight room problem by finding the resources it lacked previously — seemingly overnight. But a Band-Aid is not a true fix. To remedy a systemic problem, the NCAA needs to undergo systemic changes. For that to happen, this momentum for change cannot fizzle out.

For years, the NCAA appears to have been operating under the assumption that it can escape unscathed when it treats women's basketball as less than. That can no longer be the case. If the NCAA cannot be held legally accountable, it must be held socially accountable. Leading the charge should be its member institutions, which owe their student-athletes a legal duty under Title IX. It should not be lost on anyone that Prince, the Oregon player, got something done when the institutions and the NCAA failed her. Title IX, however, places the burden to ensure equal opportunity on the institutions. The players should never be forced to carry that burden.

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Sponsors and investors should also make supporting the women's tournament a regular practice, not a sporadic one-off when the public is paying attention and the marketing moment is convenient.

Finally, the NCAA itself needs to follow through in effecting real, sustained change. Its conduct in San Antonio is an outrage and an embarrassment. This should be the last time the value of the NCAA's elite female athletes is so flagrantly denigrated. Until it is, the NCAA's commitment as a purported guarantor of Title IX's protections will remain devastatingly superficial.

Gabriella Levine is an attorney who specializes in litigation for the law firm of Whiteman, Osterman & Hanna LLP in Albany, New York. She previously covered women’s basketball on a freelance basis.

Women’s March Madness Sunday recap: No. 2 Stanford survives ISU in OT; No. 1 South Carolina rolls

The women's NCAA tournament continued Sunday with eight second-round games .

No. 1 overall seed and undefeated South Carolina defeated the No. 8 seeded North Carolina Tar Heels. And defending champion LSU, whose coach Kim Mulkey threatened a Washington Post reporter over what she called an upcoming "hit piece," rallied to beat No. 11 Middle Tennessee State .

In the first of the eight games, No. 2 Ohio State was upset by No. 7 Duke, but No. 1 Texas handled No. 8 Alabama in the evening game. No. 2 Stanford needed overtime to put away No. 7 Iowa State in the late game.

STREAM: March Madness on ESPN+ and Fubo

Women’s March Madness games Sunday

Here is the full women's NCAA tournament schedule for Sunday.

(7) Duke 75, (2) Ohio State 63
(1) South Carolina 88, (8) North Carolina 41
(5) Colorado 63, (4) Kansas State 50
(3) LSU 83, (11) Middle Tennessee 56
(3) Oregon State 61, (6) Nebraska 51
(1) Texas 65, (8) Alabama 54
(5) Baylor 75, (4) Virginia Tech 72
(2) Stanford 87, (7) Iowa State 81

NCAA women's March Madness bracket

You can find the complete women's March Madness bracket here .

Where to watch women's March Madness

ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews and ABC carry games in the first and second rounds, the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight. ESPN will air Final Four games. ABC will air the national championship game. You can stream all the games in the ESPN app by logging in with your TV provider. Here's how to watch women's March Madness like a pro.

Stanford survives with 87-81 OT win over Iowa State

This game had everything.

The game of her life by Kiki Iriafen and an equal effort by Emily Ryan. Two star players fouling out. And then the two clutchest plays Brooke Demetre has ever made.

Demetre made a 3-pointer with 18 seconds left in overtime to give Stanford the lead for good, then sealed the win with a pair of free throws. A year after losing in the second round, as a No. 1 seed, second-seeded Stanford escaped this time with an 87-81 win over Iowa State.

Stanford also avoided being the second No. 2 seed of the day to lose, after Ohio State exited in the first game of the day.

The Cardinal will now play either N.C. State or Tennessee next weekend in the Portland 4 Regional.

Iriafen finished with a career-high 41 points, including a perfect 9 of 9 at the free-throw line, and also had 16 rebounds and four assists. And Stanford needed every bit of her monster effort, especially with Cameron Brink fouling out in the fourth quarter.

Iriafen also was key in shutting down Cyclones center Audi Crooks, who was held to 10 points two days after dropping 40 on Maryland.

But Stanford had no answer for Iowa State’s outside game. Ryan had a career-high 36 points and was 6 of 9 from 3-point range. Addy Brown added 15, including a 3 that gave Iowa State its last lead, with 31 seconds left.

Brown missed a layup on Iowa State’s next possession, and Demetre was hacked as she grabbed the rebound. She made the free throws, bringing an end to the most entertaining and wild game of the day.

Audi Crooks fouls out

Iowa State center Audi Crooks will have to watch the rest of this one from the bench after picking up her fifth foul. She finishes the night with 10 points and eight rebounds.

Iowa State and Stanford go to OT

Free basketball!

We’re going to overtime in Iowa State-Stanford after Cyclones center Audi Crooks and Stanford forward Kiki Iriafen both missed shots in the last 15 seconds.

Stanford will have to play OT without Cameron Brink, who fouled out late in the fourth quarter. Crooks is playing with four fouls and Iriafen has three.

Iriafen has carried Stanford, scoring 30 and grabbing 15 boards. Crooks hasn’t had the monster night she did against Maryland, when she dropped 40, but Emily Ryan is playing out of her mind. She’s got a career-high 31 and is 5 of 8 from 3-point range.

Brink is done

Cameron Brink’s last game at Stanford’s Maples Pavilion ended early.

The All-American fouled out late in the fourth quarter after knocking Iowa State center Audi Crooks over under the basket. She’d been playing with four since late in the third quarter.

Brink exited with eight points and eight rebounds.

That's foul

And you get a foul! And you get a foul!

Iowa State center Audi Crooks picked up her fourth foul with 4:25 left to play. Stanford’s bigs have also been negotiating foul trouble. Cameron Brink has been playing with four and Kiki Iriafen with three since late in the third quarter.

All tied up heading into fourth quarter

Buckle up, folks.

Stanford and Iowa State are tied up, 50-all, heading into the fourth quarter. But Stanford All-American Cameron Brink, playing her last game at Maples Pavilion, has four fouls. Kiki Iriafen, who has carried the Cardinal with 24 points and 10 rebounds, has three. No other Stanford player is in double-figures besides Iriafen.

Iriafen has also made Audi Crooks a non-factor. Two days after Crooks dropped 40 on Maryland, she has just eight and is 2 of 14 from the floor. Instead, it’s been Emily Ryan, who has 21 points and is 3 of 5 from 3-point range, who is carrying the Cyclones.

It’s a nervy times for the Cardinal, who as a No. 1 seed last year also lost in the second round, to Ole Miss.

That had to hurt

Iowa State’s Arianna Jackson got a face full of floor at the end of the third quarter, and it looked like all sorts of unpleasant.

Jackson, who has three points, drove from the right wing and wiped out under the basket — likely from a slippery floor — and when she lost her footing landed face-first, slamming her nose on the ground. There was a lot of blood, and she was rushed to the Cyclones’ locker room.

More foul trouble for Stanford

Not great Bob! With Cameron Brink already sitting on fouls, Kiki Iriafen picked up her third, too, late in the quarter. Brink came in to replace Iriafen, and almost immediately picked up a fourth foul.

Brink hasn’t been a huge factor for Stanford, but Iriafen has carried the Cardinal. She’s got 24 points and 10 rebounds, and has been able to keep Audi Crooks from doing the kind of damage she did the other night against Maryland.

Foul trouble for Cam Brink

All-American Cam Brink has barely been a factor in this one and now she’s going to be getting some quality time on the bench.

Brink picked up her third foul with 4:54 still to play in the third quarter. She has six points and seven boards with Stanford trailing Iowa State in the second round.

Free throws give Iowa State lead on Stanford at halftime

Emily Ryan must like having the last word.

Just as she did in the first quarter, Ryan scored the final points before halftime, a pair of free throws that gave Iowa State a 33-31 lead. Ryan has 15 points, and is 3-of-4 from 3-point range.

The battle of the bigs, between Audi Crooks and Kiki Iriafen, hasn’t really materialized – mostly because Iriafen has made it a one-sided show. She’s got a game-high 16 points and seven rebounds, and her work on the boards has set up several of Stanford’s buckets.

Crooks, meanwhile, has just five points on 2-of-11 shooting. Time and again, she’s been frustrated in front of the basket, with Iriafen in her face or putting a hand up to disrupt her shot.

But remember, Crooks had a monster second half against Maryland as Iowa State erased a 20-point deficit in the first round. So stay tuned.

Brock Purdy shows up to support Cyclones

STANFORD, Calif. - Iowa State got a big boost to its cheering section Sunday.

Former Cyclones quarterback Brock Purdy was on hand watch them take on Stanford at Maples Pavilion.

Purdy is a star quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, who play less than an hour from Stanford's campus. He and his wife Jenna were seated courtside for the game.

"We bleed Iowa State through and through," Purdy said Sunday . "It's all about Iowa State, representing the university, and for me to come and support the women's basketball team, it means a lot to me," Purdy said. – Des Moines Register

Going deep pays off early for Iowa State in first quarter

Iowa State has an outside game, too.

Two days after center Audi Crooks dropped 40 points to lead the Cyclones’ furious comeback over Maryland, Emily Ryan, Addy Brown and Hannah Belanger were perfect from 3-point range to propel Iowa State to an early lead over second-seeded Stanford.

Brown made a pair of 3s and Ryan added another in a 45-second span that was part of a 12-0 run that gave Iowa State the lead late in the first quarter. A three-point play by Nunu Agara pared the Cyclones’ lead to 20-16 with 29 seconds left, but Ryan answered back with – what else? – another 3 to give Iowa State a 23-16 lead after the first quarter.

Baylor upsets Virginia Tech as Hokies' Georgia Amoore misses Liz Kitley

Sometimes, it’s just not your night.

That was the case for Virginia Tech’s Georgia Amoore, the All-American point guard who has long been one of the top perimeter players in the country. But without her partner in the paint — three-time ACC player of the year Liz Kitley is out for the season after tearing her ACL — Amoore could never get going Sunday night against Baylor. As a result, the Bears pulled off the 75-72 upset in Blacksburg Sunday, earning a trip to the Sweet 16 for the 15th time in program history.

As much as Amoore struggled — she scored 18 but was 7-of-22 from the field, including a miserable 3-of-11 from 3 — Baylor’s guards were stellar. Jada Walker, who sat most of the first half with foul trouble, scored a career-high 28, 23 of them after the break. Sarah Andrews chipped in with 16.

Virginia Tech had the ball with 1.3 left, but couldn’t get a good look, forcing Amoore to heave the ball over the back of her head. The Hokies are the first 2023 Final Four participant to be knocked out of the postseason.

Baylor, Virginia Tech in tight battle through three quarters

In a game this close, every score matters — which is why Virginia Tech’s Georgia Amoore blowing a layup isn’t just very weird, but potentially damaging.

And it’s why the crazy, half-court shot from Baylor’s Jada Walker that was good at the third quarter buzzer might be a back breaker for the Hokies, even though they’re playing at home. That shot gave Baylor a 55-52 lead heading into the final period.

It seems that Virginia Tech has plenty of answers, but can’t get any sort of run going to get any sort of separation. The Hookies to their first lead with 1:32 to play in the third on a free throw, but Baylor took it back with an easy rebound and putback on the other end. That’s not how you get back to the Final Four if you’re Virginia Tech. But second chance points like that are how Baylor can advance to the Sweet 16.

Matilda Eke leads Virginia Tech with 14 points, and Amoore has 12, but she’s a miserable 5-of-17 from the field, and 1-of-8 from 3. Sarah Andrew leads Baylor with 16, while Walker has 14.

Sarah Andrews has Baylor ahead of Virginia Tech at halftime

Take a bow, Sarah Andrews.

The Baylor point guard is very much outplaying her Virginia Tech counterpart, outplaying Virginia Tech’s Georgia Amoore, having already hit 3-of-4 from 3. Andrew is up to 14 points, while Amoore, has 10 but on 12 shots. All of that has led to a 34-28 Baylor lead at halftime.

But Andrews isn’t the only Bear who came to play. Baylor is out rebounding Virginia Tech, 21-18, and has outscored the Hokies bench 9-2.

Can Virginia Tech, which made the Final Four last year, rally? If so, they’re going to have to start hitting from outside, where they’re currently just 2-of-16.

Baylor leads Liz Kitley-less Virginia Tech after one quarter

So far, this is going how pretty much everyone thought it would. Virginia Tech is really missing three-time ACC player of the year Liz Kitley, and Baylor is taking advantage of that absence, up 21-18 at the end of the first.

The Hokies already have four turnovers, which Baylor has turned into four points. Sarah Andrews is doing a little bit of everything for the Bears in their upset bid, and already has seven points, two assists and two rebounds.

The biggest positive for Virginia Tech: The Strack Attack. The freshman center, who averages 4.1 points and 3.9 rebounds but will have to step up big without Kitley, already has eight points and is 3-of-4 from the field, and has drawn multiple fouls against Baylor.

Texas prevails against Alabama, advances to Sweet 16

It was a battle to the end, but No. 1 Texas came out on top, defeating No. 8 Alabama 65-54 in second-round play to advance to the Sweet 16. The Longhorns led the entire game, in front of former forward Kevin Durant, but the Crimson Tide hung around, sneaking to a single digit margin in the second half.

Texas junior forward Aaliyah Moore dominated the second half and finished with a 21 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman Madison Booker added 21 points of her own.

Aaliyah Nye brought the game within eight with a jumper at the top of the fourth quarter and finished the game with 14 points, four rebounds, four assists and four fouls. Sarah Ashlee Barker led the Crimson Tide with 17 points and six rebounds.

Alabama committed 17 fouls and Texas made 16-of-21 free throws.

Texas will face the winner between No. 4 Gonzaga and No. 5 Utah in the Sweet 16.

Alabama not letting Texas run away with one quarter left

No. 8 Alabama has not led yet in the second-round matchup against No. 1 Texas, but the Crimson Tide aren’t letting the Longhorns run away with the game, either.

The Longhorns are up 48-38 after three quarters. Texas has eight steals and eight blocks, but only scored three more points than their opponent in the quarter.

Aaliyah Nye found another opportunity to boost her team as she nailed a three-point bucket late in the period. She and Sarah Ashlee Barker each have 12 points for the Crimson Tide.

Freshman Madison Booker is shining with 17 points for Texas and senior Taylor Jones is dominating defensively with four blocks and eight rebounds.

Texas leads Alabama at the half

The No. 8 Alabama Crimson Tide threatened to take the lead, but the No. 1 Texas Longhorns are holding on going into the half up 31-24.

With 6:30 on the clock in the second quarter, Aaliyah Nye made a layup to bring Alabama within one, but Texas responded with two quick buckets to maintain its lead.

Alabama has committed 10 fouls and Texas has made nine of 12 free throws.

Freshman Madison Booker has 12 points, two rebounds and two steals for the Longhorns while Nye leads the Crimson Tide with seven points and three assists.

Texas holding onto lead over Alabama through first quarter

The No. 1 Texas Longhorns are clinging onto a 17-14 lead over the No. 8 Alabama Crimson Tide after the first quarter. The Longhorns had a lead as large as eight, but Alabama has been clawing to stay in the game.

Crimson Tide senior Aaliyah Nye hit a three-point bucket toward the end of the period to give her team momentum and bring the score within one play. It was her first points of the night. Freshman Madison Booker is leading the Longhorns with eight points. Texas is outrebounding Alabama 12-4.

Kim Mulkey criticizes Washington Post reporter again

Kim Mulkey is still angry with a Washington Post reporter, calling him “sleazy” Sunday.

The LSU coach was asked if the attention over her tirade was a factor in the defending champion’s slow start against Middle Tennessee State. The Tigers trailed the No. 11 seed by four points at halftime before rallying in the second half for an 83-56 win.

“No. Listen, we’re not going to let one sleazy reporter distract us from what we’re trying to do. Absolutely not,” Mulkey said.

She added that her team hadn’t even known she’d said anything until they read about her comments last night.

Mulkey gave a fiery statement Saturday in which she confirmed she’s the subject of an investigative story by Washington Post reporter Kent Babb and threatened to sue over it. No story has been published as of Sunday evening.

Texas has early lead over Alabama after tip off with Kevin Durant in attendance

As Sunday winds down, No. 1 Texas has tipped off against No. 8 Alabama.

The Longhorns have an early 8-5 lead in second-round action. Freshman forward Madison Booker has six points. Former Texas standout and current Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant is in attendance at the Moody Center. The game is on ESPN.

Oregon State downs Nebraska, returns to Sweet 16

CORVALLIS — And just like that, Oregon State’s offense is cooking — and the Beavers are headed back to the Sweet 16.

OSU hit five 3s in the final period — the same number the Beavers had connected on the first three quarters combined — on its way to a 61-51 win over sixth-seeded Nebraska.

Junior guard Talia von Oelhoffen led all scorers with 19 points, also dishing out eight assists and grabbing five rebounds, while sophomore forward Timea Gardiner added 17 points and seven boards. Oregon State held Nebraska to 31% from the field and 20% from 3, and blocked 10 shots. Jaz Shelley led the Huskers with 10 points and seven rebounds.

This is quite the run for Oregon State, which was picked in the preseason to finish 10th in the Pac-12.

The Beavers, the No. 3 seed in the Albany 1 region, advance to play the winner of Notre Dame-Ole Miss, which tips Monday at 2 p.m. ET.

Oregon State improves scoring vs. Nebraska

CORVALLIS — Well, then. Oregon State has opened the fourth by hitting three 3s in the first 2:08 of the period, stretching its lead to 44-29 and forcing Nebraska to call a timeout with 7:15 to play.

This game just got a lot more interesting, because everyone wants to see scoring.

Oregon State leads Nebraska but it isn't pretty

CORVALLIS — Did Oregon State leave its offense in the locker room?

The Beavers have just seven points over the last 16:25 of play. They have a 35-29 lead going into the fourth quarter, but it’s anything but pretty — and their leading scorer, Raegan Beers (10 points, six rebounds) is heading to the bench with four fouls.

Nebraska’s offense hasn’t been much better, having missed six of its last seven looks. In the third quarter, the teams combined for a whopping 15 points. They’re also a combined 6-of-37 from 3.

Is Virginia coach Tony Bennett controlling this game?

LSU survives scare to dominate Middle Tennessee State

It’s always a physical game when No. 3 LSU is playing. Their second-round matchup where they beat the No. 11 Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders 83-56 was no different.

Last year’s SEC freshman of the year, Flau’jae Johnson, shined from every inch of the court with 21 points and four rebounds. She was also a vocal leader keeping her team energized at Pete Maravich Assembly Center, LSU’s home court.

“I’m not going home, bro. I put in so much work, our team put in so much work,” Johnson said on the ABC broadcast after the matchup of what kept her motivated even when the Tigers were down by nine.

Angel Reese came alive in the second half. She checked out of the game with 1:55 on the clock and finished with 20 points, 11 rebounds, two steals and a block. Aneesah Morrow added 19 points and 13 boards. Head coach Kim Mulkey, who donned a sparkly rainbow-striped suit, gave each player a tight hug as they checked out.

Two Middle Tennessee State players fouled out and the Tigers made 26-of-37 free throws. Senior Savannah Wheeler had 21 points, seven rebounds and five assists in the effort.

Next up for LSU is the winner between No. 2 UCLA and No. 7 Creighton. This is the Tigers' 16th Sweet 16 appearance in program history.

LSU up by 20 as Middle Tennessee State fades

The No. 3 LSU Tigers are up by 20 points with a score of 71-51 over No. 11 Middle Tennessee State with 6:08 left in the game. The Blue Rebels have had two starters foul out and the Tigers have made 23 of 30 free throw attempts. Hailey Van Lith finally scored at 7:16 in the fourth quarter, and it was two free throws.

Oregon State leads Nebraska at halftime

CORVALLIS — The good news for Oregon State, which has a 28-21 halftime lead over sixth-seeded Nebraska: The Beavers have 12 assists on 12 made baskets, a stat any coach would love.

The bad news: The Beavers didn’t score for the final 6:25 of the half, missing their last seven looks and turning the ball over four times. Yikes.

Part of that is surely because Timea Gardiner, the Pac-12 sixth player of the year, was stuck on the bench in foul trouble after scoring eight quick points in the first quarter. But if Oregon State is going to book a trip to the Sweet 16, its first since 2019, the Beavers will have to find offense sooner rather than later.

Meanwhile, Nebraska has hit just one 3, and is 1-for-9 (11%) from deep. That has to change if the Huskers want to take control of the game.

LSU furthers lead over Middle Tennessee State after third quarter

No. 3 LSU woke up in the second half and now leads No. 11 Middle Tennessee State 59-49 after three quarters, outscoring their opponent 27-13 in the period.

Flau’jae Johnson has 19 points as she’s powered the Tigers back in front. Angel Reese found her groove and has 14 points, including eight this quarter, and 10 rebounds. They have 18 points off turnovers.

For MTSU, fifth year senior Savannah Wheeler has 17 points and seven rebounds.

LSU retakes lead over Middle Tennessee State

No. 3 LSU clawed its way back to the lead over No. 11 Middle Tennessee State.

In a physical game, Mikaylah Williams made a free throw to tie the score at 41. Then, Flau'jae Johnson put the Tigers up by one with a shot from the charity stripe of her own with 5:24 left in the third quarter.

Oregon State vs. Nebraska tips off

CORVALLIS — It’s another packed house in Gill Coliseum as the third-seeded Oregon State Beavers take on sixth-seeded Nebraska. Both these teams can get hot from beyond the arc — does this turn into a perimeter shooting contest? Or is it a battle of the bigs in OSU sophomore All-American Raegan Beers (17.8 points, 10.4 rebounds) and Nebraska junior Alexis Markowski (15.9 points, 10.6 rebounds)?

If it’s option two, Beers has the early advantage with six points in seven minutes, giving Oregon State a 19-11 lead at the end of the first quarter. - Lindsay Schnell

Colorado snatches win from Kansas State to return to Sweet 16

The No. 5 Colorado Buffaloes women did something the men couldn’t do. The team beat the No. 4 Kansas State Wildcats 63-50 in the second round to advance to the Sweet 16.

Their 13-point lead in the end was the Buffaloes' largest margin of the matchup. They had 17 steals and 19 points off of turnovers. Senior guard Maddie Nolan had 11 points and senior forward Quay Miller added 10, with her father, former Washington State star Eddie Ja'Quay Miller, in attendance.

Wildcats senior guard Gabby Gregory was crying as she checked out of the game with 17.8 seconds left on the clock and hugged each teammate and coach on the bench. She led Kansas State with 12 points and had five rebounds in her college finale.

The Buffaloes will either face Caitlin Clark and No. 1 Iowa or No. 8 West Virginia in their second straight Sweet 16 appearance.

Middle Tennessee State raises eyebrows going into half over LSU

The No. 11 MTSU Blue Raiders sustained their lead through the end of the second quarter. They go into the halftime break up 36-32 over the No. 3 LSU Tigers.

Freshman guard Mikaylah Williams gave the Tigers a glimpse of momentum before the buzzer with a jumper. Star forward Angel Reese only has six points and missed three consecutive shots in the final two minutes of the period.

More: If LSU keeps playing like this, the Tigers will be toast, not a title team

LSU’s 12 points is the fewest amount in the second quarter they’ve scored this season. They have three players with two fouls, including starter Aneesah Morrow.

For MTSU, fifth-year senior Savannah Wheeler has 10 points, five assists and five rebounds. She’s held LSU’s graduate student guard Hailey Van Lith scoreless. The Louisville transfer averages 12.1 points per game.

Middle Tennessee State takes first lead over LSU

The No. 11 MTSU Blue Raiders have pounced on the No. 3 LSU Tigers and own their first lead of the second-round matchup. Senior point guard Savannah Wheeler made a layup with 4:54 left in the second quarter to go up 27-26. She has 10 points in the game so far as the Blue Raiders have gone on a 14-2 run.

Who is Savannah Wheeler on MTSU?

Savannah Wheeler is a fifth-year senior guard for Middle Tennessee State. She had 22 points in the Blue Raiders’ first-round upset over Louisville. During this second-round matchup against LSU, she’s guarding Hailey Van Lith and has held her scoreless through a quarter and a half. Wheeler averages 17.4 points per game this season as Middle Tennessee State finished first in Conference USA. She started her basketball career at Marshall and joined the Blue Raiders ahead of last season.

What does MTSU stand for?

Everyone knows LSU stands for Louisiana State University, but some may not be as familiar with the acronym for its second-round March Madness opponent. We've got you covered.

MTSU stands for Middle Tennessee State University.

LSU vs. Middle Tennessee State tips off

We don’t have the "scathing" Washington Post story yet, and No. 3 LSU tipped off against No. 11 Middle Tennessee State on Sunday afternoon in a second-round game.

The Tigers jumped out to a 12-7 lead early as head coach Kim Mulkey directed from the sidelines in a rainbow striped suit. Flau’jae Johnson has four points early. The game is on ABC.

After the first quarter, the score was 20-15 LSU. Aneesah Morrow has seven points, Flau'jae has six and Angel Reese has two.

Kansas State goes into halftime leading Colorado after Serena Sundell trick play

Yes, that’s legal.

Kansas State junior guard Serena Sundell put her team up with a wacky play in the final seconds of the first half against Colorado. On an inbound, she bounced the ball off Colorado’s Brianna McLeod’s back, stepped onto the court, grabbed the ball and tossed it in for a layup.

The shot put the No. 4 Wildcats up 35-33 over the No. 5 Buffaloes at the half.

Sundell leads Kansas State with 11 points while graduate guard Maddie Nolan has nine for Colorado in the back-and-forth second round matchup.

South Carolina stomps North Carolina 88-41, marches to 10th straight Sweet 16 appearance

Dominated. Ousted. Bulldozed. Smoked. Thrashed. Bullied. Smacked. Take your pick.

That’s what No. 1 South Carolina did to No. 8 North Carolina when they won 88-41 in a second round matchup. After 59 straight wins at Colonial Life Arena, South Carolina captured their 10th straight Sweet 16 appearance.

MiLaysia Fulwiley notched 20 points and nine rebounds. The freshman led the Gamecocks bench, which scored a total of 51 points.

Senior center Kamilla Cardoso returned from her one-game suspension for fighting in the SEC championship and led the starting lineup with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

North Carolina was led with 12 points from senior guard Alyssa Ustby. All-ACC senior guard Deja Kelly had seven points in the finale of her college career. The Tar Heels shot a lowly 15-of-63 (23.8 percent) from the field.

Dawn Staley’s squad will face the winner between No. 4 Indiana and No. 5 Oklahoma in the Sweet 16.

MiLaysia Fulwiley leads South Carolina through 3 quarters

MiLaysia Fulwiley has 16 points and is 4 of 5 in three-point shots as No. 1 South Carolina is up 70-34 over the No. 8 North Carolina Tar Heels after the third quarter. Her lone miss came with two minutes left in the period.

There are four players in double figures with one quarter to go — three of them off the bench.

North Carolina is shooting a lowly 13-of-50 (.26) from the field and has only made five of 10 free throws.

Tammy Brown watches daughters on two teams in NCAA tournament

Tammy Brown is busy this weekend.

She is watching both of her daughters play in the NCAA tournament. On Sunday, she was at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia to cheer on North Carolina’s sophomore guard/forward Teonni Key in her second round matchup against South Carolina. She was shown on the ABC broadcast wearing a blue jersey.

Her other daughter is Tamari Key, a sixth-year senior center for the Tennessee Lady Vols. Brown was in attendance at Tamari’s game on Saturday in Raleigh.

Although North Carolina is down by 35 points to the Gamecocks and Teonni’s season is likely over, Brown still has reason to cheer. Tamari faces NC State in a second round game on Monday.

No. 7 Duke upsets No. 2 Ohio State 75-63, moves on to Sweet 16

We finally have another upset in the women’s NCAA tournament.

The No. 7 Duke Blue Devils outlasted the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes to capture the 75-63 win. They advance to their first Sweet 16 appearance since 2018.

More: Duke upsets Ohio State in women's March Madness, advances to NCAA Tournament Sweet 16

Head coach Kara Lawson’s team overcame a 16-point lead in the first half. Junior guard Reigan Richardson finished with 28 points and seven rebounds

Ohio State’s Jacy Sheldon finishes her college career with 13 points and four assists. Sophomore forward Cotie McMahon led the Buckeyes with 27 points.

Duke overpowered the Buckeyes at the rim, outrebounding them 38 to 20 and only allowing Ohio State one of 11 three-point shots. Duke will play the winner of No. 3 Connecticut vs. No. 6 Syracuse in the Sweet 16.

South Carolina obliterating North Carolina at the half

There’s no mercy rule in college basketball, but if there was, it would appear in a game like this.

The No. 1 South Carolina Gamecocks are thrashing the No. 8 North Carolina Tar Heels 56-19 at halftime in their second round matchup. The 37-point lead is their second largest margin at the break in the school's tournament history, per the ABC broadcast.

The Gamecocks have 32 points from bench, have made eight of 10 three-point buckets and are outrebounding the Tar Heels 24-14. Freshmen Tessa Johnson and Milaysia Fulwiley each have 11 points and sophomore Chloe Kitts has added 10, all from off the bench.

South Carolina's bench shines

This game is so lopsided that even South Carolina's bench players are outscoring UNC. The Gamecocks' bench has scored 22 points with minutes left in the first half, and the Tar Heels have 14 points total. North Carolina's bench accounts for none of those points. The score is 56-14.

Te-Hina Paopao gets first points as South Carolina surges

Te-Hina Paopao has arrived.

The senior guard got her first points of the game, a three-point shot with 4:50 on the clock in the second quarter. The bucket put South Carolina up 41-10 over North Carolina in a second round matchup She also has three assists so far.

The Samoan guard transferred from Oregon last offseason and has helped boost the Gamecocks to another undefeated season. Read more.

Duke overtakes Ohio State in 3rd quarter

The No. 7 Duke Blue Devils have their first lead of the game after the third quarter and are up 51-50 over the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes. Junior guard Reigan Richardson is keeping her team alive with 18 points and made a layup that tied the game at 47. Duke is outrebounding Ohio State 28 to 15.

South Carolina dominates North Carolina after first quarter

The No. 1 South Carolina Gamecocks have a double-digit lead over the No. 8 North Carolina Tar Heels and are up 28-8 after the first quarter.

Tessa Johnson made back-to-back threes to give South Carolina a 10-point and then a 13-point lead around the two-minute mark. It was the freshman’s first career points in the NCAA tournament.

The Gamecocks went on a 15-0 run to end the period and it’s the 33rd time this season they have held an opponent to single digits in the first period.

Besides Johnson’s six points, senior center Kamilla Cardoso also has six points after missing the first-round game. Milaysia Fulwiley added five points and two steals to keep the momentum all on South Carolina’s side.

South Carolina tips off against North Carolina

Kamilla Cardoso has six of South Carolina’s seven points as the No. 1 Gamecocks have an early 7-4 lead over the No. 8 North Carolina Tar Heels.

Ashlyn Watkins made a free throw for the first point of the game and then the senior center, who missed the first round game for fighting in the SEC championship, took over.

The game is on ABC.

She’s baaack! Kamilla Cardoso to start for South Carolina

Kamilla Cardoso, South Carolina’s best player, is back and in the starting lineup for the top-seeded Gamecocks’ second-round game against North Carolina.

More: Kamilla Cardoso returns for South Carolina in March Madness against North Carolina

Cardoso missed South Carolina’s first-round game after being ejected for fighting near the end of the SEC Conference tournament championship against LSU. That carried an automatic one-game suspension.

Cardoso’s absence didn’t hurt the Gamecocks , who rolled over Presbyterian 91-39.

Ohio State leads Duke 36-32 at halftime

No. 2 Ohio State was up by as many as 16 points, but No. 7 Duke went on a 12-2 run to bring the game within two plays.

Duke junior guard Reigan Richardson has 12 points while sophomore forward Cotie Mcmahon has 14 points for Ohio State.

The Blue Devils are outrebounding the Buckeyes 18 to 11.

Jacy Sheldon's little sister, Emmy, inspires Ohio State basketball

Ohio State grad student guard Jacy Sheldon is off to a hot start again, with seven points, three assists and two boards through the first half against Duke. This will be the final home game for the Ohio native, whose little sister Emmy has inspired the team during her time there.

During Friday's first-round win over Maine, Sheldon surpassed 2,000 points for her career with a layup she converted into a three-point play. She is the eighth Ohio State player to reach that milestone.

No one in the gym was more excited about it than Emmy.

Ohio State vs. Duke tips off

Two powerhouses are battling in the second round. The No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes lead the No. 7 Duke Blue Devils 14-8 with 4:41 on the clock in the first quarter. Sophomore forward Cotie McMahon has six points early for the Buckeyes. Watch the game on ESPN.

Don’t I know you? Ohio State's Celeste Taylor vs. Duke

The selection committee isn’t above stirring the pot.

While that second-round reunion between Hailey Van Lith and Louisville won’t happen, there is another player facing her old school Sunday. Celeste Taylor spent the last two seasons at Duke spent the last two seasons at Duke before transferring to Ohio State for her fifth, COVID year.

And who are the second-seeded Buckeyes playing Sunday? You got it, the Blue Devils.

“Obviously Celeste played for Duke, and we're all very excited to play Celeste and Ohio State,” Duke’s Jadyn Donovan said Saturday. “(But) no one is really Celeste, Celeste, Celeste. It's more we want to get to the Sweet 16 and beat Ohio State.”

Taylor will have a lot to say about that, given she’s one of the best defensive players in the country. She was the ACC defensive player of the year last year when she was at Duke and she picked up that honor in the Big Ten this season.

“She just competes at a really high level. Practice, games -- she takes pride in it and is competitive because she wants to win,” Duke coach Kara Lawson said. “I think that mindset is what allows her to be really good on that end.” - Nancy Armour

Dawn Staley gets new beaded necklace from young fan

Dawn Staley has worn a colorful beaded necklace all season as the South Carolina Gamecocks went undefeated yet again. The jewelry is from when she visited a local children’s hospital last summer. The coach befriended a patient named Blakely and they made matching necklaces.

Staley appeared Saturday on SportsCenter and she shared the story behind the necklace. She then got a special video message from Blakely presenting the coach with another beaded necklace.

“Hey Coach Staley, I made you another necklace,” Blakely said. “I hope you like it. Good luck on your game.”

The Gamecocks face North Carolina in the second round in the tournament on Sunday, tipping off at 1 p.m. ET on ABC.

Women’s March Madness schedule

Here is the women's schedule :

First round: March 22-23

Second round: March 24-25

Sweet 16: March 29-30

Elite Eight: March 31-April 1

Final Four: Friday, April 5 at 7:30 and 9 p.m. ET on ESPN

NCAA championship game: Sunday, April 7 at 3 p.m. ET on ABC

Women’s March Madness 2024 game locations

A quick reminder that like in 2023, the women’s tournament will have two “super” regionals, meaning there will be four Sweet 16 and two Elite Eight games at each site. This change was made in an effort to draw more fans, and worked well last year. Given the star power in the game this season — Caitlin Clark , Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers — you can expect more of the same.

First round

Dates: March 22-23
Venues and locations: Colonial Life Arena (Columbia, S.C.); Moody Center (Austin, Texas); Value City Arena (Columbus, Ohio); Maples Pavilion (Stanford, Calif.); Pete Maravich Assembly Center (Baton Rouge, La.); Gill Coliseum (Corvallis, Ore.); Cassell Coliseum (Blacksburg, Va.); Bramlage Coliseum (Manhattan, Kan).; Carver-Hawkeye Arena (Iowa City, Iowa); Galen Center (Los Angeles, Calif.); Purcell Pavilion (South Bend, Ind.); Pauley Pavilion (Los Angeles, Calif.); Gampel Pavilion (Storrs, Conn.), Reynolds Coliseum (Raleigh, N.C.); Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall (Bloomington, Ind.); McCarthey Athletic Center (Spokane, Wash).

Second round

Dates: March 24-25

How to watch women's March Madness like a pro

So, you’re going to watch women’s March Madness . Is this your first time? If so, welcome. The women’s game is growing at a rapid rate, and we’re happy to have you here. You’ve picked a great time to join the party, given the star power of players like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese , who are playing in their last March Madness. But don’t worry, there’s plenty of young superstars in the game too, from JuJu Watkins (Southern Cal) to Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame) to Madison Booker (Texas) and a whole host of others.

Filling out men’s brackets has always been par for the course but this year, nearly every bracket competition has seen a significant uptick in people filling out women’s brackets. There’s no question the women’s tournament is going to shine this year — maybe even outshine the men’s — and we’re here to help you enjoy it. So let’s talk semantics, so you can have the best women’s tournament viewing experience possible . — Lindsay Schnell

Who won the 2023 women’s basketball national championship?

Last year's NCAA Tournament featured the most-watched Final Four in the sport's history when Iowa handed South Carolina a rare loss and then lost a nail-biter to LSU in the championship.

Who are the women's basketball stars to watch in 2024 March Madness?

The Hawkeyes' Caitlin Clark is poised for another Final Four run after her landmark season where she broke Pete Maravich's all-time scoring record . LSU's Angel Reese , Stanford's Cameron Brink , Connecticut's Paige Bueckers and South Carolina’s Te-Hina Paopao are hoping to stand in the way of her first national title.

What to know about Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame's freshman star and ACC rookie of the year

Freshman guard Hannah Hidalgo led the Fighting Irish to a 55-51 win over the North Carolina State Wolfpack in the ACC championship game to secure Notre Dame an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament. Hidalgo, who scored 22 points, six rebounds, six assist and two steals in the win, was named the 2024 ACC Tournament MVP and named to the All-Tournament First Team.

The ACC tournament accolades are just the tip of the iceberg for Hidalgo, whose stellar freshman campaign has also earned her national recognition. Here's everything to know about the freshman standout .

What to know about Cameron Brink, Stanford star forward with family ties to Stephen Curry

Stanford has crossed the brink of history this year. The Cardinal was the runner-up in the Pac-12 championship after a season during which head coach Tara VanDerveer passed Mike Krzyzewski for most wins in college basketball.

The team captured their fourth consecutive regular-season conference title with a boost from Cameron Brink. The senior forward, who's listed as 6-4, is averaging a double-double and is a player to watch as Stanford seeks to make a run in the NCAA tournament. Brink, who won the 2021 national championship with the Cardinal, was named the Pac-12 Player of the Year after dominating on both ends of the court all season.

Besides her prowess on the hardwood, Brink, known for her physical play and signature blond braids, has a solid NIL portfolio and family ties to NBA star Stephen Curry. Here is what you need to know about Stanford star Cameron Brink .

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Women's basketball is a thing

It would appear that we are going to have to say this once more for the people in the back: women’s basketball is a thing. And if it isn’t your thing, then hush.

After a women’s NCAA basketball tournament for the ages, one that produced high-profile stars — most especially but not only Iowa’s Caitlin Clark — and an undefeated championship team in South Carolina, and then a WNBA draft that had more eyes on it than ever before, it is both shocking and yet also unsurprising that we are still having these conversations. Yet here we are, with sports pundits like Bill Simmons agreeing on his podcast with NBA reporter Ethan Strauss that the WNBA teams should have the same names as their NBA counterparts.

"Like, why force people to learn about the Fever?” Strauss asked. “Why not just have the ‘W Pacers’?”

I mean, seriously. Is it really that hard to add 12 team names to your brains, gentlemen? Aces? Fever? Sky? These are not hard words — they require the bare minimum of attention to wrap one’s brain around. Is it so hard to extract the women’s side of a sport from the men’s? Must everything be in relation to what the men are doing? Because I’m willing to bet quite a few dollars that more kids know who the Indiana Fever are right now than the Indiana Pacers.

Let’s start with a few doses of reality. First of all, not all WNBA teams have a geographical NBA counterpart. That’s just facts. Further, this isn’t the start of something. The WNBA is about to launch its 28 th season. Just because the WNBA — and its team names — might be new to you doesn’t mean it is new.

What we are seeing is a wildly strong connection between the now enormously popular (19 million viewers don’t lie) women’s college game and the professional league. This connection is one that the men’s side has largely lost, with few, if any, headliner names. But women’s basketball is establishing the persistent development that is badly needed to make a sport explode, and the results, from ticket sales to sold out merch, make true my constant chant that we need to invest in women’s sport to get results, not wait for results to invest. Because goodness: men’s sports have had quite the head start when it comes to investment and attention. And the WNBA’s recent decision to finally offer charter travel to its players is only the tip of the iceberg.

Should women’s basketball have needed a Clark or an Angel Reese or a Cameron Brink to get the respect it deserves? No. Because it already had a Sue Bird and a Sheryl Swoopes and a Breanna Stewart and a — all bow in respect — Candace Parker. But now it has these new names — especially, without question, Clark — and it is up to us to respect it, own it, and try to keep up with it.

Keeping up with it hasn’t been easy. Some teams have been proactive, such as the indomitable Las Vegas Aces, who moved their July game against the Indiana Fever to a larger venue before Clark had even been drafted. But that has been the exception. After generations ignored the capacity of women’s sport to be profitable, the infrastructure of American sport is barely able to stay on pace with the fan frenzy that surrounds women’s basketball right now. Gregg Doyel became the lesson for all after the Indiana Star penalized him for his awkward — and I’m being kind — exchange with Clark during her first presser after the draft. Doyel is no neophyte when it comes to sports writing, and yet his first time out of the gate with Clark, he crashed and burned and then — so awkward — didn’t seem to understand what the problem was.

The league itself, too, has been caught off guard. After failing to broadcast Reese’s debut with Chicago, a fan livestreamed the game on Twitter from her seat. Over half a million views later, the WNBA decided to add a few preseason games to its League Pass schedule, including — oh yes — Chicago.

Yet there were clues. Before the NCAA women’s championship game, the open practices for Iowa and South Carolina sold out. Think about that for a minute: 17,000 people showed up to watch a basketball practice. So much for the tired theory that women’s basketball isn’t interesting to watch.

So, when Clark comes to New York to face the Liberty — and with it, Breanna Stewart — I will be there, in the worst seat I have ever had at a Liberty game. Because — oh yes — I, too, ignored the signs and had to get at the back of a very long line.

Amy Bass is professor of sport studies and chair of the division of social science and communication at Manhattanville College. Bass is the author of ONE GOAL: A COACH, A TEAM, AND THE GAME THAT BROUGHT A DIVDED TOWN TOGETHER, among other titles. In 2012, she won an Emmy for her work with NBC Olympic Sports on the London Olympic Games.

The views expressed by commentators are solely those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect the views of this station or its management.

Fantasy women's basketball: Preseason standouts and other takeaways

Liz Loza breaks down why new Mystics guard Karlie Samuelson is a good option for fantasy managers late in drafts. (0:24)

The WNBA preseason is quickly winding down as the regular season tips off on Tuesday, May 14.

Here are a few takeaways and other observations from the 2024 preseason to help fantasy managers gain an edge in fantasy women's basketball this season.

Caitlin Clark stuffs the stat sheet for the Indiana Fever

Clark is making waves for the Indiana Fever. As the No. 1 pick in this year's WNBA draft, she's bringing the momentum from her historic NCAA season with the Iowa Hawkeyes to the professional stage. Clark's arrival marks a new wave of interest in women's basketball, and she's living up to the hype. In the Fever's two preseason games, the rookie has showcased her talent with solid all-around performances. Against the Dallas Wings , she dropped an impressive 21 points. Then, facing the Atlanta Dream , she tallied 12 points in 32 minutes while also grabbing eight rebounds and dishing out six assists. With her versatile skill set, Clark is poised to excel in the WNBA. Fantasy managers should feel confident adding this rookie sensation to their team.

Ariel Atkins is positioned for a huge season with the Washington Mystics

Atkins closed out the preseason with an impressive performance, accumulating 20 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals in the Mystics' final preseason game against the Minnesota Lynx . Her performance offers fantasy managers a glimpse of her potential for the upcoming season. With Elena Delle Donne stepping away from basketball this year, Atkins could become the Mystics' leading scorer. Given her talent and role on the team, Atkins is an excellent player to target in the later rounds of your fantasy draft.

Crystal Dangerfield could return to form with the Atlanta Dream

The Dream acquired guard Dangerfield from the Wings in early May in exchange for a third-round draft pick in 2025. She averaged 16.2 PPG and 3.6 APG during the 2020 season, which culminated in her being recognized as the Rookie of the Year, but has bounced around the league since then because of her inconsistent play. With Dangerfield's arrival, it suggests that the Dream may not be completely comfortable with Haley Jones , the No. 6 pick in 2023. Also, there is uncertainty about Jordin Canada and how long she'll be out because of a hand injury. The Dream also recently waived guard Destanni Henderson . Dangerfield is someone fantasy managers shouldn't overlook near the end of their drafts.

Angel Reese could exceed our projections

Much like Clark, Reese has showcased her versatility for fantasy managers this preseason. In the Chicago Sky 's final preseason game against the New York Liberty , she had 13 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals in just 19 minutes. With rookie Kamilla Cardoso sidelined for the first month of the season because of a shoulder injury, Reese shouldn't be overlooked in the later rounds of drafts. She has the potential to contribute across multiple statistical categories, and with ample playing time, fantasy points are likely to follow.

Kiah Stokes is set for an increased role in the Las Vegas Aces ' frontcourt

Stokes missed the final game of the 2023 WNBA Finals with a foot injury, but is back for the 2024 season. She started last season while Candace Parker was out with an ankle injury. Despite being an inconsistent scorer, Stokes remains an elite rebounder and shot-blocker, averaging 11.8 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per 40 minutes. Although she'll face competition for minutes from offseason addition Megan Gustafson , Stokes is projected for 22.0 minutes per game as the Aces seek to fill the void left by Parker's retirement. It's wise not to overlook her potential, especially toward the end of your fantasy draft.

Jacy Sheldon could have a big impact this season on the Dallas Wings

Sheldon was selected fifth overall by the Wings in the WNBA draft. In Dallas' preseason game against the Fever on May 3, she scored six points and dished out two assists in 13 minutes of play. The Wings are in need of improved guard play because of a lack of depth in the backcourt following Dangerfield's departure, which bodes well for Sheldon's prospects this season. During her time at Ohio State, she achieved an impressive milestone, becoming one of just three players in school history to amass 1,900 points, 400 rebounds, 350 assists, 200 steals, and 150 made 3-pointers in their career. The other two players to accomplish this feat were Samantha Prahalis and Kelsey Mitchell . Don't hesitate to take a flier on Sheldon at the end of your fantasy draft or at least add her to the top of your watch list.

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Candace Parker Named Adidas’ First-Ever President of Women’s Basketball

Elizabeth swinton | may 8, 2024.

Candace Parker has been named Adidas' president of women's basketball following her retirement.

Candace Parker is wasting no time in continuing her mission to grow women’s basketball.

Just 10 days following her retirement from her storied playing career, Parker has been named Adidas’ president of women’s basketball, the brand announced Wednesday. It is a first-of-its-kind role for Adidas, in which Parker will work to oversee product lines, expand the brand’s existing athlete roster and increase representation among her responsibilities.

Parker has long roots with Adidas, having worn the brand’s shoes in high school and college and officially signing as a professional athlete in 2008 following her Rookie of the Year WNBA season. Since then, Parker became the first woman to have a signature shoe with Adidas when her ACE Commander was released in 2010, headlined multiple collections with the brand and has acted as a mentor for collegiate Adidas athletes in the NIL era.

In her retirement message posted to social media, Parker stated her intentions to expand her ventures with her playing career at a close. Now in her new role with Adidas, Parker will do just that, having the opportunity to shape the rapidly-growing landscape of women’s basketball from a new vantage point.

“From high school to college to playing pro to now, this appointment by Adidas symbolizes a shared commitment to making impactful change and setting new benchmarks for the future of women's sports,” Parker said in a press release. “It's not just about products; it's about fostering a movement focused on innovation, representation, and access.”

Parker will have input on new product lines while also building upon Adidas’ women’s basketball athlete roster, which currently includes Aliyah Boston, Hailey Van Lith, Kahleah Copper, Aaliyah Edwards, Chelsea Gray, Betnijah Laney, Alysha Clark, Nneka Ogwumike, Chiney Ogwumike and Erica Wheeler, among others. In appointing Parker as its first-ever president of women’s basketball, Adidas continues to prioritize investment in women’s sports and its focus on women’s basketball.

“As a true innovator with a profound passion for the game, we are confident that she is a perfect fit to evolve the Adidas women’s basketball business and catalyze a new era of growth and credibility for the brand,” Adidas basketball global general manager Eric Wise said in a statement.

As one of the best to play the game, Parker—a three-time WNBA champion, two-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time WNBA MVP—is uniquely fit for the challenge.

ELIZABETH SWINTON

Maryland women’s basketball embraced NIL and the transfer portal to rebuild

Brenda Frese and the Terrapins signed seven new players with the help of an NIL collective for the first time.

Maryland Athletic Director Damon Evans admitted there was a sense of urgency to get Brenda Frese some help this offseason. Her Terrapins women’s basketball team had just posted its fewest wins since 2003-04, losing in the first round of the NCAA tournament for the first time in her 22 seasons as coach. The struggles of the most successful program in the Big Ten over the past 10 years, however, seem to have come with a silver lining.

The early exit from the postseason allowed the focus to be placed elsewhere, specifically the transfer portal, from which Frese signed seven players and quickly reconstructed her roster. And not only did Frese and her staff have more time to recruit without a postseason run, they had name, image and likeness (NIL) dollars available for the first time through the “One Maryland Collective.”

“We really had to ramp up our efforts to meet these needs as the marketplace changed,” Evans said. “And that’s what we did.”

Frese added: “You see the difference.”

The university announced in September the creation of the donor-funded collective to maximize NIL opportunities for all 20 of the school’s varsity sports. The football and men’s basketball programs already had collectives in place, but women’s basketball was operating with zero NIL dollars to entice potential recruits. The transfer portal is the new way of life in the NCAA, with athletes able to transfer and immediately play at another institution, and the promise of NIL money has played a huge role since players became eligible to be paid in July 2021 .

Evans declined to specify how much money was available in the women’s basketball pool this offseason, but the results can be seen through Frese’s latest additions:

Kaylene Smikle, a 6-foot guard from Rutgers who was named to the 2023 all-Big Ten second team
Christina Dalce, a 6-foot-2 forward from Villanova who was named Big East co-defensive player of the year
Sarah Te-Biasu, a 5-5 guard from VCU and the reigning Atlantic 10 player of the year
Amari DeBerry, a 6-6 forward from Connecticut and a 2021 McDonald’s all-American
Isimenme Ozzy-Momodu, a 6-3 forward from Gulf Coast State and a junior college third-team all-American
Saylor Poffenbarger, a 6-2 guard from Arkansas and a 2023 all-SEC freshman team selection
Mir McLean, a 5-11 guard from Virginia and a 2020 McDonald’s all-American

The additions offset a substantial exodus that included outgoing transfers Faith Masonius, Riley Nelson, Hawa Doumbouya and Summer Bostock. Brinae Alexander, Jakia Brown-Turner and Lavender Briggs all exhausted their eligibility.

“Our staff has always been one of the hardest working staffs in the country,” Frese said. “I thought this year we did a much better job being able to adapt and trying to kind of find a better system for recruiting out of the portal. I’ve had some tough offseasons now that things have changed with the transfer portal. This one was the hardest I’ve ever been through.”

The transfer portal went live March 18, four days before the Terps lost to Iowa State in the first round of the NCAA tournament. That period is always tricky as teams prepare for their tournament opponents while still trying to pay attention to the portal. The early exit allowed the Maryland staff to fully dive into the portal, working 14 to 16 hours per day. The staff constantly checked in on the portal, at least three times per day, to see whether anyone new had entered. The goal was to be one of the first to reach out. The process included watching film, deciding on whether there was a fit, talking to others who know the player and scheduling a 48-hour on-campus visit.

“All hands on deck,” recruiting coordinator Lindsey Spann said. “You’ve got to get in as soon as possible just because of how fast a lot of this goes for a lot of these student-athletes.

“[The collective], it’s a huge, huge help for us.”

Maryland has faced criticism in recent years for the number — and quality — of players who have left the program, most notably Angel Reese, who was named the NCAA tournament’s most outstanding player after she led LSU to the 2023 national championship in her first season after transferring. On the flip side, incoming transfers Abby Meyers, Alexander, Briggs and Elisa Pinzan helped the Terps advance to the 2023 Elite Eight. The 2021-22 squad that featured transfers Chloe Bibby, Katie Benzan and Mimi Collins was one of the most offensively prolific teams in school history.

Last year’s roster lacked depth, size and athleticism, and the Maryland staff says it believes those deficiencies have been addressed. Frese and Spann both said this was a year when the players available in the portal very much matched up with the team’s needs.

The quality of the players available certainly helped, but the biggest factor may have been having NIL funds to compete in recruiting those players.

“The challenge was just that identifying what was taking place out there,” Evans said. “What was the market for, specifically, women’s basketball players? How many NIL dollars were they starting to get paid? … A year or so ago, the amount of money that women’s basketball players were getting … pales in comparison to what they’re getting today. So making sure that we understood how rapidly this thing was evolving and growing and making sure with Brenda that we’re able to identify, okay, how much money do we need to raise in this collective for you to meet the needs that you have?

“So that was really the big challenge. We went from zero to 100 so fast, but we were able to do it. And that allowed her to go out and get what I think is one of the best transfer portal classes in the country.”

Frese noted this was the first time she had ever dealt with agents for players.

“[It’s] a whole new reality of that element that no one’s trained us for,” Frese said. “I have a lot of experience in a lot of areas, but this whole new space between agents and NIL and all of it, never thought I would be in this space, but here we are.”

Leistikow: Iowa women's basketball transfer? Plus WNBA buzz for Caitlin Clark, Kate Martin

Typically on Mother’s Day weekend, the amount of Iowa women’s basketball news and intrigue is subdued. Outgoing players might be completing finals and graduating, returning players are getting a much-needed break and coaches are either trying to catch their breath or dive back into recruiting.

But this has been anything but a typical year for the Hawkeye women’s team, and this weekend's news cycle is brimming with developments and excitement reflective of a squad that reached back-to-back NCAA championship games.

Let’s dive into some of that now, ahead of your Sunday brunch plans with mom. (You did make that restaurant reservation, didn't you?)

Could Iowa add a surprise transfer portal center?

That is certainly the hope within Iowa circles, but it won’t be easy. The Register can confirm that the Hawkeyes are firmly in the mix with 6-foot-4 Arkansas transfer Maryam Dauda, a former five-star prospect in the Class of 2021.

Dauda entered the transfer portal in late April and would have two years of eligibility at her new school. She averaged 10.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game as a redshirt sophomore. Dauda has the size and frontcourt athleticism that Iowa sorely lacked in the national championship game against South Carolina. She led Arkansas in shooting (45.5%), blocks (74) and offensive rebounds (79) last season and even had a 10-block game against Alabama. She also scored 16 points against LSU and 19 against South Carolina, proving she has the ability to compete against the best in the sport.

A few questions are natural here.

How good are Iowa’s chances? Well, the coaching staff is confident about bringing her in for a visit to Iowa City, and that’s a great starting point. We saw that getting Villanova transfer Lucy Olsen on campus was critical, as she picked Iowa immediately after her visit despite surging interest from LSU and Maryland. But while Iowa has a chance, South Carolina looks like the team to beat for Dauda. Generating women’s basketball-specific donations to Iowa’s SWARM Collective could be a major factor.

How would she fit at Iowa? Awesomely. And if the Hawkeyes are in pursuit, they probably have done their homework on character fit, too. Dauda could become an instant-impact starter at Iowa’s “5” spot, allowing Hannah Stuelke to fully slide back to her more natural “4” (power forward) position. A time-share of Dauda and incoming freshman Ava Heiden (a top-40 prospect out of Oregon) sounds like a dream over the next two years for head coach Lisa Bluder, especially since Stuelke has two more years of eligibility as well. Throw seniors Olsen and Sydney Affolter into a 2024-25 starting lineup with possibly Taylor McCabe or Kylie Feuerbach, plus Stuelke and Dauda with Heiden and her fellow talented freshmen coming off the bench, and Iowa might be right back in the Final Four conversation.

How can Iowa make the scholarships work? Don’t worry about that at all. Iowa wouldn’t be pursuing Dauda if it couldn’t offer her a full scholarship. While Iowa is full with 15 scholarships already, it’s common in today’s NIL era (the same thing football is currently dealing with) for a player to be moved to walk-on status and have that tuition, room and board covered by the outside collective. Remember, NCAA legislation in recent years allows programs to feed walk-ons, too, so it can become just a clerical thing to be walk-on vs. scholarship. The only restriction by the NCAA is that a maximum of 15 players can travel to games, and scholarship forward Ava Jones (recovering from serious injuries when she was struck by a car in the summer of 2022) didn’t travel with the team last year.

What’s the timetable? A recruiting window reopens on Monday, so hopefully for Iowa, the wheels move quickly next week. The race (and possibly a bidding war) is certainly coming to acquire Dauda, a highly talented player with upside. If Iowa gets her, it feels like another season-ticket sellout could be imminent at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

The Iowa schedule comes into focus

As On3 Sports first reported , the Hawkeyes have added home dates with Northern Illinois, Toledo and Washington State to their nonconference schedule. Toledo (27-6 last season) on Nov. 13 and Washington State (21-15 while playing in the rugged Pac-12) on Nov. 24 especially add heft to the Hawkeyes’ schedule, which also includes Virginia Tech (in Charlotte), Kansas (in Sioux Falls), Tennessee (in Brooklyn) plus the in-state gauntlet of Drake (road), Iowa State (home) and Northern Iowa (home).

This news comes on top of the recent release of Iowa’s 18 Big Ten opponents , which will include one home-and-home opponent (Nebraska) and 16 single games against everyone else in the new 18-team Big Ten. Iowa being able to host USC (a potential preseason No. 1 or 2) and UCLA, plus conference heavyweights Indiana and Maryland, adds to the robust home schedule that should keep season ticketholders happy.

Bluder certainly isn’t dialing anything back in the post-Caitlin Clark era when it comes to scheduling.

Early returns on Caitlin Clark in the WNBA

While she may not get direct credit for it, there’s no doubt that Clark’s star power is one of the reasons that the WNBA for the first time will institute charter flights for teams, which previously flew commercial. The WNBA is committing $50 million over the next two seasons to make that happen. There’s no doubt the league expects an influx of popularity and cash in the coming years.

“At airports, it's like a madhouse,” Phoenix Mercury player Natasha Cloud said. “You see Caitlin Clark walking through airports, people following her, people trying to touch her, get pictures with her. It's just a safety measure, through and through. You would never have an NBA team walk through an airport.”

Meantime, we learned this week that 17 Fever games will air on Des Moines’ ABC affiliate (WOI) this season.

On the court, Clark’s two preseason games have been solid but unspectacular. Watching her team play, it’s clear why they’ve had the No. 1 pick in each of the last two drafts. Her Indiana team is a raw and very unfinished product, and Clark is already getting a ton of physical defensive attention. That should allow her passing to thrive as much as anything in her early pro games. Clark scored 21 points in her first game (a loss), then posted 12 points, eight rebounds and six assists in Thursday’s game (a win). Clark's teammates have been complimentary of her ability to push the floor and the team and have been especially impressed with her passing.

Indiana opens the regular season Tuesday at the Connecticut Sun (6:30 p.m. CT, ESPN2), then will have its home opener Thursday vs the New York Liberty (6 p.m., Amazon Prime Video).

Will Kate Martin make the Las Vegas Aces roster?

Things certainly are trending that way, which is an incredible development. The deadline for WNBA teams to solidify their 12-player rosters is Monday, and the Aces have already trimmed their group to 12. But certainly, fluctuation can occur via any last-minute acquisitions, so this isn't a done deal.

If Martin does make it, what a story that would be. The six-year Hawkeye didn't average more than 7.7 points or 4.9 rebounds per game in any of her first five college seasons. She almost didn’t return for a sixth season in Iowa City, but Clark helped convince her to come back for one more ride with the Hawkeyes. And it was in Martin’s sixth year that her value on and off the court became especially apparent.

She was always known as a great leader, but her powerful team-oriented quotes and her ability to help Clark manage her emotions showed up in a big way. Martin, an undersized 6-foot forward, showed increased scoring ability in her final college season, boosting her averages to 13.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game while connecting on a career-high 51 3-pointers. Martin’s fourth-quarter takeover in the national semifinals against UConn helped push Iowa over the top. Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon seems to really appreciate Martin’s value on so many levels.

And as much attention as the Indiana Fever are getting from new WNBA fans from Iowa, the Aces might actually be “Iowa’s team.” Former Hawkeye Megan Gustafson, the 2019 national player of the year, is solidly in the fold for the two-time reigning WNBA champions. And Kiah Stokes, a Marion native and daughter of former Hawkeye Greg Stokes, is a 10th-year WNBA veteran on the Las Vegas roster.

The Aces' season opener will follow the Fever's: 9 p.m. CT Tuesday vs. Phoenix on ESPN2.

In other words, block off your Tuesday night. The excitement for women's basketball in the state of Iowa is poised to continue.

Hawkeyes columnist Chad Leistikow has served for 29 years with The Des Moines Register and USA TODAY Sports Network. Chad is the 2023 INA Iowa Sports Columnist of the Year and NSMA Co-Sportswriter of the Year in Iowa. Join Chad's text-message group (free for subscribers) at HawkCentral.com/HawkeyesTexts . Follow @ChadLeistikow on Twitter .

Toronto awarded WNBA expansion team to begin play in 2026

Larry tanenbaum's kilmer sports group to run league's 14th franchise.

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Women's professional basketball is coming to Toronto.

CBC Sports has learned that Kilmer Sports Inc., headed by Toronto billionaire Larry Tanenbaum, has been granted an expansion franchise with the Women's National Basketball Association.

An announcement is expected May 23 in Toronto, with the team to begin play in May 2026, according to four people with knowledge of the deal but who are not authorized to speak about it.

The WNBA did not confirm the Toronto move.

"We continue to engage in productive conversations with interested ownership groups in a number of markets and the granting of any expansion teams requires a vote of the WNBA and NBA board of governors," the league said.

Tanenbaum is a minority owner and chairman of sporting giant Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment which owns the Maple Leafs, Raptors, TFC, Argos and Marlies.

The 79-year-old originally pursued the expansion team through MLSE, but it was turned down by other members of the board.

A man presents a ring to a player during a ceremony.

About 17 million Canadians consider themselves women's sports fans, report says
Caitlin Clark reportedly signing record 8-year, $28 million US deal with Nike

The WNBA recently expanded to 13 teams with San Francisco-based Golden State to begin play next year, and commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in April Toronto was among the cities being considered as the 14th team.

In a statement, Courtney Glen, vice president of public affairs and communications for the Kilmer Group, said the organization has "no update at this time."

A WNBA spokesperson said: "We continue to engage in productive conversations with interested ownership groups in a number of markets but have no news to report at this time."

WATCH | What a Toronto WNBA team means for the city, players and fans:

Toronto is getting a WNBA team. What it means for the city, players and fans

Mayor Olivia Chow said in a television interview on Friday she was aware there was movement on Toronto getting a women's basketball team.

"Wait for it. Hopefully, there will be something later on," said Chow in an interview with local news channel CP24. "Basketball, it's just great and having role models, it's time.

"Hopefully, there will be good news soon and I can't wait for that to happen."

A source said the team would play at Coca-Cola Coliseum, an 8,000-seat arena at Toronto's Exhibition Place which is home to the Marlies and where Toronto's Professional Women's Hockey League franchise is currently playing its first playoff series.

A woman basketball player signs autographs.

WNBA to begin full-time charter flights this season, commissioner says

Professional women's sports has been on the rise in Canada with the formation of the PWHL that has two other Canadian franchises in Ottawa and Montreal, as well as a new women's soccer league that is expected to begin play in 2025.

A year ago, Toronto's Scotiabank Arena sold out for the WNBA's first pre-season game in Canada and on Saturday, more than 16,000 tickets were sold for a game in Edmonton's Rogers Place.

The league recently held its amateur draft, with NCAA star Caitlin Clark going first overall to the Indiana Fever.

Kilmer Sports Inc. is a new arm of Tanenbaum's Kilmer Group, and it has hired former European soccer executive Ivan Gazidis to lead the new group. Teresa Resch is also part of the new organization after leaving her job with the Raptors as vice president of basketball operations.

How sports fans are reacting to Toronto’s WNBA expansion team

About the author.

Senior Contributor

Shireen Ahmed is a multi-platform sports journalist, a TEDx speaker, mentor, and an award-winning sports activist who focuses on the intersections of racism and misogyny in sports. She is an industry expert on Muslim women in sports, and her academic research and contributions have been widely published. She is co-creator and co-host of the “Burn It All Down” feminist sports podcast team. In addition to being a seasoned investigative reporter, her commentary is featured by media outlets in Canada, the USA, Europe and Australia. She holds an MA in Media Production from Toronto Metropolitan University where she now teaches Sports Journalism and Sports Media. You can find Shireen tweeting or drinking coffee, or tweeting about drinking coffee. She lives with her four children and her cat.