NCAA women’s tournament expanding to 68 teams
The NCAA women’s basketball tournament is expanding to 68 teams beginning with the current season, giving it an equal number of participants as the men’s tournament as part of a concerted effort at gender parity.
The men’s tournament expanded to 68 teams in 2011 with four firstround games traditionally played in Dayton, Ohio. The first four for the women’s tournament will take place on the campuses of teams seeded in the top 16 this season, but they will move to a to-be-determined neutral site beginning with the 2023 tournament.
“This immediate expansion of the women’s basketball championship reinforces the fact that leaders within Division I are committed to strengthening aspects of the women’s basketball championship that directly impact student-athletes,” said West Virginia athletic director Shane Lyons, the chairman of the Division I Council.
“We look forward to the positive change this will have for the student experience at the championship,” Lyons said, “especially as it relates to equal team opportunities to compete in the tournament.”
The expansion of the women’s tournament was among the recommendations put forth in August after a comprehensive external gender equity review conducted by the law firm Kaplan Hecker & Fink. It was commissioned after backlash driven by social media of disparities in the men’s and women’s tournaments, including weight rooms and other facilities.
ESPN will broadcast the first four games along with the rest of the women’s tournament. The network is also moving its selection show for the tournament from Monday to Sunday — the same day as the men. It’s the first time since 2005 that the women’s bracket will be announced on Sunday.
GEORGE MASON 71, (20) MARYLAND 66 »
D’Shawn Schwartz scored a career-high 24 points, DeVon Cooper added 16 and George Mason (4-0) withstood a frantic comeback bid by Maryland (3-1) to pull off an upset.
That was just enough to provide George Mason with its first win over a ranked foe since 2007 and its first victory over Maryland. (23) UCONN 93, LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY 40 » Tyler Polley scored 17 points and UConn (3-0) used stifling defense to rout overmatched Long Island University (0-3).