The men’s NCAA tournament–March Madness–has become a fixation of American pastime, with over a quarter of Americans filling out a men’s bracket. Yet only 16% filled out a woman’s bracket. The woman’s NCAA basketball tournament has been overlooked and in the shadow of the men’s NCAA tournament, despite their talent, for many years now. As women’s basketball continues to evolve, teams get better and new star players pop up every year.
Media coverage for both tournaments and overall games has a significant difference and is one of the most important issues. The men’s tournament is broadcasted over multiple networks with multiple reporters, pregame and postgame analysis. The women’s tournament is usually aired on smaller networks with limited air time. For the second round of the tournament, mens games had over 9.4 million viewers, while the woman’s second round had about 982,000 viewers.
Junior Lauren Krentzman shared why she usually watches men’s basketball games more than women’s.
“I just find that the men’s [tournament] is more covered so I don’t actively look for the men’s bracket over the women’s,” Krentzman said. “I think that is extremely unfair because women put in the same amount of work, if not more.”
The difference in media coverage doesn’t mean that women’s games are worse than men’s. Women’s college basketball has seen fast growth over the past couple years with star players like Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark and Juju Watkins drawing in fans. The level of talent went through the roof with iconic shots and plays from each player. These players brought record-setting viewers for the 2023 Women’s NCAA Tournament. They proved that if given the equal chance and the right platforms, they can excel at the sport they and many others love.
Senior Lové McGriff commented on her favorite women’s players and how they changed the game.
“I like Juju Watkins, the player on USC,” McGriff said. “She’s one of my favorite women’s players. [Watkins is] very fun to watch, very flashy, and [she’s] definitely changing and evolving the game for women’s hoops.”
Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) deals have increasingly provided monetary opportunities for men’s college players, who often get these deals based on their fan base and popularity through endorsements. Women’s teams only recently achieved a monetary milestone by receiving prize payouts for the first time, marking a step towards equal compensation for their performance in the tournament. While this is a step towards equity, men have been gaining prize payouts since 1991, benefiting from more years of funding, better resources, and brand deals, which has grown the financial gap between the men’s and women’s tournaments. This not only affects their instant earnings, but also affects their future opportunities in professional sports and deals.
“I find it absurd that [prize payouts haven’t] been a thing in the past, and I think that it’s regrettable that it had to happen this year as opposed to in the past, but it’s good that it started,” junior Tim Letwin said. “I’m sure there’s a part of sexism in there too that people just want to watch the guys.”
The way to improve the women’s NCAA tournament and women’s college basketball in general, is not just about giving the players more airtime or better payouts, it’s about creating an environment where women’s sports are equal and enjoyed. While America is on its way to more viewership and engagement in the women’s tournament, there’s still a long way to go.
