The Division I Women's and Men's Basketball Committees decided to continue to conduct separate Women's and Men's Final Fours in the next round of site selections for both events. The committees will continue to explore other modifications to the Final Fours.
The unanimous decision, made during a joint meeting, concluded several months of exploration of the concept of hosting both events in the same city on the same weekend, which included deliberations with numerous stakeholders in the women's and men's basketball communities.
The Women's and Men's Basketball Oversight Committees approved the basketball committees' decision Friday.
The combined Final Four was one of several recommendations from an external review of gender equity issues in connection with NCAA championships, including issues that were noted during the 2021 Division I Women's Basketball Championship.
The basketball committees emphasized that the Division I Women's Final Four is the premier women's basketball event in the country and has shown tremendous growth in recent years, and members reaffirmed their commitment to continue to enhance the championship while honoring the elements that make it unique.
As part of the committees' discussion, Nina King, chair of the Women's Basketball Committee and athletics director at Duke, summarized the committee's efforts over the past several months to review other recommendations from the gender equity report and identify immediate changes that could be made for the women's championship before embarking on additional structural changes.
"We are excited about the enhancements that will already be in place for the 2022 championship and Women's Final Four in Minneapolis for fans and participating student-athletes," King said. "Before additional modifications are made to the tournament's format and structure, it is important to us to see, for example, the effect an expanded bracket, the use of March Madness branding, and increased support from corporate partners can have on growing the women's game and the women's basketball championship."
The committees determined a combined Final Four would not be included in the upcoming bid process for cities hoping to host Final Fours from 2027 through 2031.
"While we currently serve as men's committee members, our group consists of long-standing stakeholders in women's basketball as Division I athletics directors and conference commissioners," said Tom Burnett, commissioner of the Southland Conference and chair of the Division I Men's Basketball Committee.Â
"Our committee has been honored to join the women's group in multiple meetings in recent months to review the planned equitable improvements for the NCAA women's basketball championship, and we fully support the initiatives agreed upon by our colleagues," Burnett said. "While we concur with the decision to maintain separate Final Fours in the next bid cycle, we are also unanimous in a continuing review of alternative modeling that can enhance both national championships."
During the upcoming site selection process, the committees will continue to consider potential modifications to the championships that would maintain the integrity of each.
Among the concepts under consideration would be conducting the Final Fours on different weekends.
"In addition to the enhancements already approved, evaluating the possibility of separating the Men's and Women's Final Four championships on alternating weekends has tremendous potential," said Bernadette V. McGlade, commissioner of the Atlantic 10 Conference, current member of the Division I Men's Basketball Committee and former chair of the Women's Basketball Committee. "The student-athletes, coaches and institutions participating in these two iconic events would have the spotlight, media bandwidth and full national attention that they both deserve. Professionally, institutional administrative leaders, athletic directors, commissioners, corporate partners, event organizers, basketball fans and families could enjoy, celebrate and most importantly participate by attending two of the most celebrated championships in the NCAA."Â
The Women's and Men's Basketball Oversight Committees emphasized that work would continue on gender equity efforts.
"Our committee has led the review of several recommendations from the gender equity report," said Lisa Campos, athletics director at the University of Texas at San Antonio and chair of the Women's Basketball Oversight Committee. "Our efforts began before the report was concluded, and our work is not finished. We appreciate the basketball committees' work on this issue, and we will continue to thoroughly evaluate opportunities to grow the game and enhance the women's tournament."
"Our men's oversight group fully supports the joint basketball committees' decision on the combined Final Four concept and are appreciative of their comprehensive review that led to the decision," said Judy MacLeod, commissioner of Conference USA and chair of the Men's Basketball Oversight Committee. "We look forward to their continued work on alternatives that will benefit both world-class Final Four events."
The Division I Women's and Men's Basketball Committees comprise 12 members each. Committee members include athletics directors, senior women administrators and conference commissioners representing schools and conferences throughout the NCAA membership. The 2027-31 Women's and Men's Final Fours will be awarded this fall.
