NCAA explores hosting men's, women's Final Fours in same city
We could see a combination of the Men’s and Women’s Final Fours in the near future. According to the NCAA, the Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Committees have been meeting virtually the past two months exploring the possibility of holding both Final Fours in the same city in the future.
During last year’s tournament, issues arose stemming from a difference in resources between the Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships. In their press release, the NCAA states that a joint-tournament is one of the recommendations from a comprehensive external review of gender equity issues.
Still, no final decision was made regarding the matter. However, a unanimous decision was announced — both committees voting that if the decision was made to have both Final Fours in the same city, the earliest it could occur is 2027.
Continuing, the NCAA states that both committees will continue to meet to discuss this topic. Additionally, they will spend time exploring ways to develop an overarching goal of a combined championship that boosts student-athlete experience and fan and stakeholder engagement.
Moreover, one reason why the earliest the idea could happen is 2027 is because both Men’s and Women’s Final Fours have contracted hosts through 2026. Both committees also feel that asking a host city to lose an opportunity to conduct a Final Four that they have committed to would not be in the best interest of either of the Division I basketball championships.
Future Women’s Final Four sites:
2022 — Minneapolis
2023 — Dallas
2024 — Cleveland
2025 — Tampa Bay, Florida
2026 — Phoenix.
Future Men’s Final Four sites:
2022 — New Orleans
2023 — Houston
2024 — Phoenix
2025 — San Antonio
2026 — Indianapolis
Additionally, the chairs representing the Men’s and Women’s Division I Basketball Committees released statements regarding the matter.
“We are committed to continuing discussion about the concept of conducting both the Women’s and Men’s Final Fours in the same city in the next bid cycle for each of these premier NCAA Championships,” said Nina King, chair of the Division I Women’s Basketball Committee and director of athletics at Duke. “Finding ways to address the gender equity issues that have come to exist through the years between the Division I Women’s and Men’s Basketball Championships is a priority, and we are dedicated to making impactful changes.”
Tom Burnett, chair of the Division I Men’s Basketball Committee and commissioner of the Southland Conference, added: “The joint meetings between the two committees have produced thorough and productive conversations. We all want to find ways to benefit the experience of all the student-athletes, coaches and fans of NCAA college basketball. If both committees agree that the recommendation of having both Final Fours in the same city is the best option, we are committed to seeing that it will be executed with comprehensive planning.”
Finally, the awarding of the sites for the 2027-31 Men’s and Women’s Final Fours is scheduled to be announced in the fall of 2022. We’ll see if the possibility comes to fruition.