In supporting student-athletes across all three divisions, the NCAA is committed to closing the participation gaps and historic inequities that have limited women’s participation in athletics and leadership positions.
Women’s sports have been part of the NCAA since the Association approved a plan to add them Jan. 13, 1981. The first NCAA women’s championships were conducted in Division I, II and III field hockey and cross country in November 1981, followed by the first women’s volleyball championships in all three divisions the next month.
Today, the NCAA sponsors 45 women’s championships and three coed championships in 21 sports. Participation numbers reached an all-time high in 2023-24, with 236,315 women competing in championship sports in all three divisions. However, there is still a participation gap, with over 70,000 more men participating in NCAA sports.
Supporting and Advancing
The NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics is a membership committee composed of representatives from all three divisions. The committee reports to the divisions and is influential in advancing opportunities and priorities to support women student-athletes and equitable participation. The Gender Equity Task Force is an ad hoc group that supports the work of governance committees and provides expertise as needed on gender equity issues.
Celebrating Women in College Sports
The NCAA is proud to celebrate the achievements of women in sports — from Title IX pioneers who fought to give girls and women opportunities to today’s student-athletes succeeding in competition, the classroom and their communities. We salute their accomplishments.
Creating More Participation Opportunities for Women
The NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program was created in 1994 from a recommendation put forth by the Gender Equity Task Force. Its goal is to provide new sport opportunities for women and allow additional flexibility to NCAA schools to support new sports and participation on their campuses. In 2023-24, over 5,000 student-athletes participated in emerging sports. Since its inception, five sports have gained championship status, and six sports are currently part of the Emerging Sports for Women program.
Supporting Women in College Sports Leadership
The senior woman administrator is the highest-ranking female in each NCAA athletics department or conference office. The purpose of the SWA designation is to promote meaningful representation of women in the leadership and management of college sports.
The NCAA provides resources and professional development opportunities to help equip SWAs and other athletics leaders about effective ways to support and use this position on campus. The NCAA also supports advancement for women in coaching and administration through leadership development programs, including the NCAA and Women Leaders inSports Women’s Leadership Symposium and the NCAA Pathway Program among others.
Title IX
Passed as part of the Educational Amendments of 1972 to the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Title IX is a landmark law that supports equal opportunities in education. Title IX is overseen and enforced by the federal Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. The NCAA expects all member institutions to uphold and abide by the federal Title IX requirements.
“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.” Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 to the 1964 Civil Rights Act
Title IX Resources
Advancing Gender Equity
The NCAA is committed to providing equitable and positive championship experiences for all college athletes. The completion of a 2021 gender equity review has positioned the Association to identify next steps for how issues outlined in the report may be addressed.
A new eight-year media rights agreement for 40 NCAA championships, including women’s basketball, women’s volleyball, gymnastics and softball, resulted in a significant increase in revenue. With this increase, the NCAA has begun exploring the possibility of including revenue distribution units for the women’s basketball tournament.
Achieving gender equity requires working together for change. Meaningful and lasting impact will be achieved through thoughtful efforts among an array of NCAA members, college athletes and NCAA staff.
As part of their charge, the Gender Equity Task Force drafted the following definition to help guide the work of athletic departments to achieve gender equity:
An athletics program can be considered gender equitable when the participants would accept as fair and equitable the overall program(s) offered for other genders. No individual should be discriminated against on the basis of gender, institutionally or nationally, in intercollegiate athletics.
