NCAA announces decision regarding men's, women's hoops tournaments

The NCAA has announced that it will continue holding separate Women’s and Men’s Final Fours in NCAA basketball tournaments. After exploring the possibility of hosting both Final Fours in the same location at the same time, the men’s and women’s basketball committees ultimately unanimously decided to continue holding the two Final Fours separately.

During the 2021 Women’s NCAA Tournament, a number of issues arose that led to further review of the NCAA Championship events. But instead of holding the tournaments for the men and women together, attention will shift towards continued improvements towards gender equity issues within the sport.

“We are excited about the enhancements that will already be in place for the 2022 championship and Women’s Final Four in Minneapolis for fans and participating student-athletes,” Duke athletics director and Women’s Basketball Committee chair Nina King said. “Before additional modifications are made to the tournament’s format and structure, it is important to us to see, for example, the effect an expanded bracket, the use of March Madness branding, and increased support from corporate partners can have on growing the women’s game and the women’s basketball championship.”

Tom Burnett, the chair of the Men’s Basketball Committee and Southland Conference commissioner, added that efforts towards improving both NCAA Tournaments will continue to be discussed.

“While we currently serve as men’s committee members, our group consists of long-standing stakeholders in women’s basketball as Division I athletics directors and conference commissioners,” said Burnett.

“Our committee has been honored to join the women’s group in multiple meetings in recent months to review the planned equitable improvements for the NCAA women’s basketball championship, and we fully support the initiatives agreed upon by our colleagues,” Burnett said. “While we concur with the decision to maintain separate Final Fours in the next bid cycle, we are also unanimous in a continuing review of alternative modeling that can enhance both national championships.”

One possible change to the NCAA Tournaments is Final Fours on alternating weekends

Instead of a combined Final Four between the men’s and women’s tournaments, the Final Fours could instead be held on different weekends in an attempt to continue spotlighting the sport and athletes involved in both. Current Men’s Basketball committee member and former Women’s Basketball Committee chair Bernadette V. McGlade said that the possibility has been discussed.

“In addition to the enhancements already approved, evaluating the possibility of separating the Men’s and Women’s Final Four championships on alternating weekends has tremendous potential,” said McGlade. “The student-athletes, coaches and institutions participating in these two iconic events would have the spotlight, media bandwidth and full national attention that they both deserve.

“Professionally, institutional administrative leaders, athletic directors, commissioners, corporate partners, event organizers, basketball fans and families could enjoy, celebrate and most importantly participate by attending two of the most celebrated championships in the NCAA.”