Women Are About to Get Paid💰

For the first time, the NCAA has approved payments to women’s basketball teams for advancing in the national tournament. Starting in 2025, a total of $15 million will be awarded to teams who make NCAA Division I post-season tournament, with that pot growing to $25 million by 2028. (ESPN)

WHY IT MATTERS: This is a historic step in closing the NCAA’s financial gap between men’s and women’s college basketball. The men’s tournament introduced a similar performance-based payment system back in 1991. Recognizing the growing popularity of women’s hoops, this move highlights the progress being made in supporting and rewarding women’s teams.

UConn women’s basketball just hit a new kind of milestone. This week they announced $3.25 million in ticket sales for the 2023-24 season, making them the first public women’s college basketball team to surpass $3 million in annual ticket sales. (Sportico)

WHY IT MATTERS: UConn’s success highlights the growing popularity of women’s basketball and its potential for profitability when properly promoted and celebrated. UConn is the only public FBS school that spends more on its basketball programs than on football—a bold investment that’s clearly paying off. Other programs, like Iowa and South Carolina, may soon reach this financial benchmark as well.

Iowa State’s 945-game streak of hitting at least one three-pointer came to an end this past Tuesday during their 71-58 victory over Texas Tech. The last time the Cyclones didn’t hit a three? February 19, 1995—back when the WNBA didn’t exist, and floppy disks were still a thing. (AP News)

WHY IT MATTERS: It’s surprising that this streak ended in today’s era of basketball, when the three-ball is such a dominant part of offensive play. But as Cyclones center Audi Crooks joked after the game, “I mean, sorry but also not.” A win is a win!