During the Division I Business Session on Wednesday, Division I members voted to expand the men's and women's basketball performance funds to financially reward teams' performances after reaching their respective Final Four. Each basketball performance fund will be expanded by three total units: one awarded to each of the two teams that advance to and play in their respective championship game, with an additional unit awarded to the national champion team.
"As a conference which does not have the benefit of national football revenue but has had a school playing in either the Men's or Women's Final Four seven times in the last nine years that the tournament has been conducted, the Big East is very grateful for this change," said Val Ackerman, commissioner of the Big East Conference. "We're very glad that every team that advances to the championship game from here on out will benefit from this logical adjustment to our national revenue distribution policy."
The increase is effective immediately, meaning teams competing in the 2026 Division I Men's and Women's Basketball Championships will be able to earn the additional units, to be distributed to conference offices in 2027.
"Today's vote emphasizes the importance of rewarding schools who invest in the development of their basketball programs and reach not just the Final Four but ultimately achieve the pinnacle of success in this sport by competing for and winning the national championship," said Dan Gavitt, NCAA senior vice president of basketball. "The expansion of these funds also continues to increase financial support to members during this pivotal time in college sports in which student-athletes are receiving unprecedented benefits from their schools."
Units earned during the tournaments are paid out to conferences on a rolling basis. In men's basketball, units are distributed over six years, and in women's basketball, the units are distributed over three years.
Division I members voted to establish the women's basketball funds during last year's NCAA Convention. The first women's basketball units, which were earned during the 2025 tournament, will be distributed in April.
