The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) faces backlash over its unequal treatment of players between players in its March Madness tournaments.
On Thursday, Stanford University sports performance coach for the women’s basketball and golf team, Ali Kershner, posted on Twitter a video showing a stark difference between the women’s weight room of its NCAA bubble in San Antonio and the men’s weight room of its NCAA bubble in Indianapolis.
“In a year defined by a struggle for equality, this is an opportunity to hold a conversation and improve,” Kershner wrote below the image, which showed that the men’s weight room was not only larger than the women’s, but which also had more equipment and weight options for the athletes to train with.
In response to Kershner’s image and images shared by other athletes, NCAA Women’s Basketball Vice President Lynn Holman issued a statement saying the difference in facilities existed in part because of the “little space and the original plan was to expand the training area the space was available later in the tournament “.
However, after hearing the needs of the participating teams, Holman states that the NCAA is “actively working to improve existing resources in practice courts, including additional weight training equipment.”
Following Holman’s statement, University of Oregon player Sedona Prince shared a video on Twitter showing how big the women’s training track is and “all the extra space” they have for a room of better and greater weight.
“If you don’t mind this problem, be a part of it,” Prince said in the video that instantly went viral.
In addition to the images from the weight room, several college athletes from various women’s basketball teams shared images and videos showing a disparity of treatment in terms of food options and shopping bags.
To date, the NCAA has not issued a statement regarding allegations of difference in food and handbag options. But several NBA and WNBA players, including Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry and Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson, have taken to Twitter to share their disappointment with the NCAA and their apparent lack of resources for women athletes.
This disparity in treatment, according to many athletes, speaks volumes about the lack of investment and funding that women’s sports programs often receive, although Title IX requires universities to provide equal treatment for women and players.
Just over the past year, women athletes from various schools have spoken out on the issue, including female athletes from Clemson University, who stated earlier this month that they intend to file a class action lawsuit against the school. if no further financial assistance is provided.
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