NCAA considers expanding women's tournament alongside men's tournament

NCAA President Charlie Baker discussed the potential expansion of both the men's and women's NCAA tournaments in an interview. He emphasized that if the men’s tournament is expanded, the women’s tournament will also expand. This aligns with their goal to increase access to the tournaments for more teams. Baker noted the recent increase in media rights deals, particularly for women’s basketball. The value of the women's NCAA Tournament is now about $65 million per year. He mentioned that the partnership with ESPN has led to better promotion and production, enhancing the visibility of women's college basketball. He also talked about changes in the NCAA’s rules regarding Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals. All deals over $600 must be approved, which some fear could lead to delays for athletes looking to capitalize on timely opportunities. Baker assured that the NCAA, in collaboration with Deloitte, is working to streamline this process to avoid any negative impacts on student-athletes. Regarding the growth of women's college basketball, Baker believes that clearer regulations around NIL will attract more participants and investment in the sport. He highlighted that having structures in place would build trust between athletes and schools, leading to better outcomes. Lastly, Baker mentioned the NCAA's recent decision to restrict transgender athletes assigned male at birth from participating on women’s teams. He stated that this decision was made after significant discussion and reflects the NCAA's commitment to clarity on the matter.