MADNESS: Shocking Disparity Between Male and Female Facilities at NCAA Tournament

It’s a tale of two training rooms (watch above).

On the one side, elaborate color-coded amenities including workout benches, exercise machines, and rows of free weights. On the other, a single rack of dumbbells alongside a stationary bike.

The level of competition doesn’t account for the stark disparity – both areas are designated for DI basketball players competing in this year’s NCAA March Madness. So what gives? Gender.

On Thursday, Stanford University Sports Performance Coach Ali Kershner shared a juxtaposition of the two training rooms inside the tournaments’ covid-safe bubble, revealing that the women’s area contains a fraction of what’s on offer to the men.

“In a year defined by a fight for equality, this is a chance to have a conversation and get better,” Kershner wrote on Instagram.

Condemnation of the facilities was swift and near universal.

Lynn Holzman, NCAA vice president of women’s basketball, acknowledged the issue and blamed it, in part, on lack of space. But Oregon basketball player Sedona Prince debunked that claim in a social media post (watch tweet below), revealing that there was still a large area available for workout equipment.

“If you’re not upset about this problem, then you’re a part of it,” Prince said.

NCAA Senior Basketball VP Dan Gavitt said the disparity was the result of a rushed timeline that led to “some shortcomings.” But he added, “I apologize and feel terrible about anything that falls short of our lofty expectations.”

On Saturday, the official account of NCAA DI Women’s Basketball tweeted a photo of a new weight room, saying “Let’s gooooo.”