The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has introduced a new financial incentive structure for the Women’s Basketball Tournament, mirroring the system used in the men’s tournament. Starting this year, women’s teams will earn units based on their performance, which will be distributed to their respective conferences. While the payouts remain significantly lower compared to the men’s tournament due to differences in media rights valuation, this move marks an important step toward parity. The initiative aims to enhance financial support for women’s basketball programs and acknowledges the growing popularity of the sport. This change reflects the NCAA’s commitment to promoting equality in collegiate sports, even as disparities in media revenue persist.

Beginning this season, women’s basketball teams will accumulate units for each game played in the NCAA Tournament. These units will then be allocated to the team’s conference, which redistributes the funds among its members. The system closely resembles the rewards structure for men’s teams, where success in the tournament translates into substantial financial benefits. However, the value of these units for women’s teams is considerably less, reflecting the disparity in media rights agreements. For instance, men’s tournament units are valued at approximately $2 million each, thanks to a lucrative media deal. In contrast, women’s units will initially be worth around $200,000, with plans to reach $25 million by the 2027-28 season, increasing annually thereafter.

Despite the significant gap in media revenue between the men’s and women’s tournaments, the introduction of unit-based payouts for women’s teams represents a meaningful advancement. The women’s tournament currently generates about $65 million per year in media rights, a fraction of the $1.1 billion generated by the men’s event. Yet, a larger proportion of the women’s media rights revenue—41%—will be allocated to unit payouts, compared to just 24% for the men’s tournament. This shift underscores the growing importance of women’s basketball and the NCAA’s efforts to recognize and reward the sport’s rising prominence.

In recent years, the women’s basketball tournament has gained considerable traction, with last year’s championship game surpassing the men’s final in viewership. The success of players like Caitlin Clark has contributed to this surge in interest. As the sport continues to grow, aligning financial incentives with those of the men’s tournament becomes increasingly relevant. Although the financial impact may not yet match that of the men’s tournament, this development signals a positive direction for women’s sports. It highlights the NCAA’s recognition of the sport’s potential and its commitment to fostering equitable opportunities for female athletes.