Tuesday at the Target Center, during an hour-long presentation hosted by Rebecca Lobo, almost everyone associated with the women’s Final Four showed up to promote an event that will take place in less than 40 days.
This included NCAA officials, members of the local women’s basketball community, the local organizing committee, Gophers officials and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, among many others.
And if there was a theme to remember, it was this:
Equality.
It’s been almost a year since the NCAA was spotlighted — largely by student-athletes on social media — for the unfairness with which the men’s and women’s tournaments were run. It started with photos of the women’s weight room, a barbell rack, contrasting with the full weight room provided for the men. There were questions about the food served, the gift bags provided.
It was harsh light. A law firm was hired to look into the problem. NCAA President Mark Emmert apologized.
But if you ask Lynn Holzman, that harsh light came with a silver lining: action.
“That got things going, didn’t it?” Holzman asked Tuesday. She is the NCAA vice president of women’s basketball. “I think when you talk about seizing this opportunity, that’s really what happened.
“Not just those who fought for these improvements, but others were involved in the movement, if you will, through media coverage, through social media, through our student-athletes and our coaches.”
It’s been almost a year. But as this year’s tournament begins the process of selecting 68 teams from the four that will come here to play in the national semifinals on April 1, it appears that a lot of progress has been made to make this a more equitable event — for athletes and fans.
Tournament Improvements
Start with a field of 68 teams, up from 64 last year, putting the women’s tournament on equal footing with the men’s.
“Several years ago, the number of men had increased to 68,” said Nina King, Duke athletic director and chair of the NCAA women’s selection committee. “We have the same number of Division I women’s teams as men’s teams. It’s about creating opportunities for participation.
Or the fact that, for the second year, all tournament matches will be available on one of ESPN’s platforms. ESPN will feature a series of technological advancements you’ll see as the Women’s Final Four begins.
The network will install 40 cameras around the Target Center, according to Patricia Lowry, ESPN coordinating producer. A typical televised game has five cameras, she said.
The Women’s Final Four will have a camera on rail that moves up and down the sidelines to give a sense of the speed of the game, high-speed cameras in the corners and a camera that will be aloft in the Target Center showing the action from above. .
For the fans? Wendy Blackshaw, CEO of Minnesota Sports and Events, ran through the list: Tourney Town, a three-day fan festival at the convention center; Beyond the baseline, with round tables; Party on the Plaza, which will take place on First Avenue from Friday to Sunday; an open practice for the final two teams on Saturday at the Target Center and a concert on Saturday evening.
All free and open to the public.
For Frey, hosting an event like this in Minneapolis, which may be about to reopen after two years of Covid-19 shutdowns, is perfect timing.
“It’s a major deal,” Frey said. “It gives us the boost we need, a boost of energy to have a vibrant downtown, coming back after a hiatus of a few years.”
Historical adjustments
Holzman is no stranger to inequity, having experienced it as a Kansas State basketball player and then as an administrator. Speaking with her, it seems like working for change has been frustratingly slow at times. But after the events of last year? She described the whirlwind of media coverage acting as a catapult for change.
“This last year has involved a lot of work, a lot of time spent by both the NCAA staff and the men’s and women’s basketball committees, analyzing and scrutinizing every game of the championship. I don’t think, historically, that had never been done before in NCAA history.
It was an opportunity.
“It’s been 40 years since the NCAA won this championship,” she said. “It’s the 50th anniversary of Title IX. … It was really the time to seize and really take advantage of the opportunity to really do some things around this championship.
