Why Women's NCAA Basketball Doesn't Make as Much as Men's NCAA Basketball and What Needs to Be Done

The disparity in earnings between women's and men's NCAA basketball has been a long-standing issue rooted in societal, economic, and cultural factors. In the past, men's NCAA basketball has gotten greater visibility, larger audiences, and more lucrative broadcasting deals. Meanwhile, women's NCAA basketball has often struggled to gain comparable attention, which directly impacts revenue streams such as ticket sales and advertising. Even though there is a difference in viewership, the continuation of urging individuals to watch women's NCAA basketball continues. 

Current

Today, the gap persists despite efforts to elevate women's sports. Yet, the women's NCAA basketball tournament has grown significantly in popularity over the past decade. Specifically, there was record-breaking viewership in numbers and increased media coverage. Nonetheless, the tournament's revenue remains substantially lower than that of the men's tournament. For example, the NCAA reported that the men's tournament generates over a billion dollars in revenue annually, while the women's tournament typically earns a fraction of that. The result of this does not benefit women in NCAA basketball. These women athletes do not receive the same level of scholarships, stipends, or endorsement opportunities. This disparity extends beyond players to coaching salaries, media rights, and sponsorship. Major brands and broadcasters tend to invest more heavily in men's sports, perpetuating a cycle where men's basketball remains the premier college sport for financial investments while women's NCAA basketball continues to lack a spotlight. 

Future

Despite these challenges, there is always potential for a change to occur. By increasing societal awareness around gender equality, combined with advocacy from players, coaches, and fans, it increases the chance for this conversation to come forward and lead to a real change. The success of recent campaigns promoting women's sports and the rise of social media platforms provide avenues for women's NCAA basketball to reach wider audiences. Overall, if these entities prioritize equitable investment and visibility, the economic gap could narrow, leading to improved financial outcomes for women's NCAA basketball and its athletes. 

Conclusion

Some may think this is unfair or unequal to women, that men's NCAA basketball athletes make more than women's NCAA basketball athletes. Yet, if you take everything into consideration, the problem isn't with male athletes nor females, it's the media's attention, fans, etc. Moving forward, increased societal support, strategic investments, and persistent advocacy are essential for creating a more equitable landscape. Only through these efforts can we hope to see a future where women's NCAA basketball receives the recognition and rewards it rightly deserves.