A shot at equality: NCAA allows women’s basketball to use ‘March Madness’ in branding

ARE ONLY MEN WORTHY OF MARCH MADNESS?

NOT ANYMORE.

WE’RE TALKING ABOUT THE NCAA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT – THREE WEEKS OF TEARS, BUZZER BEATERS, AND DARE I MENTION…GENDER DISPARITIES?

OH, IT’S NOT JUST ME SAYING THAT. THE NCAA FINALLY AGREES, ALMOST FIFTY YEARS AFTER TITLE NINE PASSED.

WHICH IS WHY THE ORGANIZATION ANNOUNCED THAT WOMEN’S DIVISION 1 BASKETBALL CAN NOW USE THE PHRASE ‘MARCH MADNESS’ IN THEIR 20-22 TOURNAMENT BRANDING.

IN THE PAST, ONLY MEN WERE ALLOWED TO USE MARCH MADNESS FOR BRANDING IN STADIUMS, ON MERCHANDISE, AND IN SPORTS COVERAGE.

FOR WOMEN, IT WAS JUST CALLED…WOMEN’S BASKETBALL.

NOT QUITE THE SAME RING.

WHILE THIS IS A WELCOME CHANGE TO THE SPORT, THE NCAA DIDN’T COME TO THIS DECISION ON THEIR OWN.

REMEMBER THIS VIRAL VIDEO BY OREGON’S SEDONA PRINCE? ##

IT HELPED PROMPT AN EXTERNAL REVIEW OF GENDER ISSUES AT NCAA TOURNAMENTS.

BRANDING WAS ONE OF SEVERAL ISSUES BEING ASSESSED.

WHAT OTHER CHANGES TO COLLEGE SPORTS DO *YOU WANT TO SEE?

LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS BELOW.