In supporting student-athletes across all three divisions, the NCAA is committed to closing the participation gaps and historic inequities that have limited women’s participation in athletics and leadership positions.
Women’s sports have been part of the NCAA since the Association approved a plan to add them Jan. 13, 1981. The first NCAA women’s championships were conducted in Division I, II and III field hockey and cross country in November 1981, followed by the first women’s volleyball championships in all three divisions the next month.
Today, the NCAA sponsors 45 women’s championships and three coed championships in 21 sports. Participation numbers reached an all-time high in 2022-23, with 230,951 women competing in all three divisions. However, there is still a gap, with over 70,000 more men than women participating in NCAA sports.
The NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics is a membership committee composed of representatives from all three divisions. The committee reports to the divisions and is influential in advancing opportunities and priorities to support women student-athletes and equitable participation. The Gender Equity Task Force is an ad hoc group that supports the work of governance committees and provides expertise as needed on gender equity issues.
How does the NCAA celebrate women?
The NCAA is proud to celebrate the achievements of women in sports — from Title IX pioneers who fought to give girls and women opportunities to today’s student-athletes succeeding in competition, the classroom and their communities. We salute their accomplishments.
How is the NCAA creating more participation opportunities for women?
The NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program was created in 1994 from a recommendation put forth by the Gender Equity Task Force. Its goal is to provide new sport opportunities for women and allow additional flexibility to NCAA schools to support new sports and participation on their campuses. In 2022-23, over 4,200 student-athletes participated in emerging sports.
Since its inception, five sports have gained championship status, and six sports are currently part of the Emerging Sports for Women program. The NCAA is also looking at opportunities to build on enthusiasm for women’s flag football, which will make its Olympic debut in 2028. For more information about the program, including how sports can apply for consideration, please visit the Emerging Sports for Women page.
How does the NCAA support women in college sports leadership?
The senior woman administrator is the highest-ranking female in each NCAA athletics department or conference office. The purpose of the SWA designation is to promote meaningful representation of women in the leadership and management of college sports.
The NCAA provides resources and professional development opportunities to help equip SWAs and other athletics leaders about effective ways to support and use this position on campus.
The NCAA also supports advancement for women in coaching and administration through leadership development programs that provide training and networking opportunities, including the NCAA and Women Leaders inSports Women’s Leadership Symposium and the NCAA Pathway Program among others.
How is the NCAA working to advance gender equity?
The NCAA is committed to providing equitable and positive championship experiences for all college athletes. The completion of a 2021 gender equity review has positioned the Association to identify next steps for how issues outlined in the report may be addressed.
Significant steps have been taken to address issues noted in the report, including establishing an internal equity evaluation process, expanding the Division I women’s basketball bracket, creating a 32-team postseason Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament, expanding “March Madness” branding to include the Division I Women’s Basketball Championship, developing equity in staffing for Division I men’s and women’s basketball, and conducting a “zero-based” budget for Division I men’s and women’s basketball, which resulted in enhancements for the student-athlete experience at the women’s championship.
In addition, a new eight-year media rights agreement for 40 NCAA championships, including women’s basketball, women’s volleyball, gymnastics and softball, resulted in a significant increase in revenue. With this increase, the NCAA has begun exploring the possibility of including revenue distribution units for the women’s basketball tournament.
Achieving gender equity requires working together for change. Meaningful and lasting impact will be achieved through thoughtful efforts among an array of NCAA members, college athletes and NCAA staff.
Action Complete
- Increased communication and collaboration on strategy between Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Committees and Basketball Oversight Committees to achieve gender equity in the student-athlete experience.
- Established internal gender equity evaluation process.
- Increased NCAA staff with expertise in Title IX and gender equity.
- “March Madness” branding used for Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships.
- Equitable branding for all championships, including gender modifiers in championship titles.
- Established corporate sponsorship activation internal tracking system for 2021-22 championships and beyond.
- Funding approved to broadcast Division III women's basketball championship beginning in 2022.
- First ever DII WBB national coordinator of officiating hired.
- Held first annual meeting of WBOC and DI/DII/DIII women’s basketball committees.
- Conducted a “zero-based” budget for Division I men’s and women’s basketball, which resulted in enhancements for the student-athlete experience at the women’s basketball championship.
- Provided additional staff and resources for championship administration.
- Developed equity in staffing for Division I men’s and women’s basketball.
- Established regular strategy discussions between the Division II and III men’s and women’s basketball committees to achieve gender equity in the student-athlete experience.
- Expanded women's basketball bracket.
- Concluded exploration of concept to host Men’s and Women’s Final Fours in same city, with Division I Women’s and Men’s Basketball Committees voting unanimously to continue hosting separate events through at least 2031.
- Gender-equitable student-athlete experience opportunities at the Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships.
- Increased cross-promotion of the Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships.
- Third-party audit to ensure gender equity in 2022 and 2023 championships was achieved.
- Consider independent valuation of media rights for championships.
- Pursue marketing and promotional opportunities for Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships.
- Implement strategy to realize the value of the Division I Women’s Basketball Championship (and other championships across the NCAA).
In Progress
- Ensure items impacting the student-athlete experience at 84 championships in addition to basketball are gender-equitable.
- For all championships with non-joint committees, establish regular communications that focus on coordinating strategic decisions and achieving gender equity in the student-athlete experience.
- Apply gender equity values to revenue distribution.
Future Consideration
- Evaluate and reward performance for contributions to gender equity.
- Conduct a “zero-based” budget for all championships in addition to basketball.
- Create a transparent process for increasing the bracket/field and travel party size for championships in addition to basketball.
- Conduct an assessment for combining or co-locating men’s and women’s events among those 84 championships.
- Change leadership structure of Division I basketball to prioritize gender equity and coordination between the men’s and women’s tournaments.
- Create senior-level position to implement marketing strategy to achieve gender equity at championships.
- Negotiate for a new tier of corporate sponsors for the Division I Women’s Basketball Championship (and other NCAA championships).
- Financial support to teams participating in non-NCAA postseason events.
- Equitable funding for NCAA programs provided for all future initiatives.
Gender Equity Resources
As part of their charge, the Gender Equity Task Force drafted the following definition to help guide the work of athletic departments to achieve gender equity:
An athletics program can be considered gender equitable when the participants in both the men's and women's sports programs would accept as fair and equitable the overall program of the other gender. No individual should be discriminated against on the basis of gender, institutionally or nationally, in intercollegiate athletics.
Support of Title IX
Passed as part of the Educational Amendments of 1972 to the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Title IX is a landmark law that supports equal opportunities in education. Title IX is overseen and enforced by the federal Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. The NCAA expects all member institutions to uphold and abide by the federal Title IX requirements.
“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.” Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 to the 1964 Civil Rights Act
