As two of the most legendary women’s college basketball coaches prepare to face off in Sunday’s national championship game, they dedicated part of Saturday to advocating for an improved media rights arrangement for their sport. Both South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley and UConn head coach Geno Auriemma agreed that the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament should consider having its own media rights deal, distinct from the existing agreements that cover numerous other collegiate sports.
“We need our own television deal so we can understand what our worth is,” Staley stated in a Saturday press conference. Currently, the women’s tournament is integrated into an eight-year, $920 million media rights contract with ESPN, which encompasses all NCAA championship events except the men’s basketball tournament and the College Football Playoff. Under this contract, signed last year, the women’s tournament is valued at approximately $65 million of the $115 million total ESPN pays the NCAA annually.
However, many believe the women’s tournament could command a significantly higher value on its own. A third-party study cited by Front Office Sports suggests that the independent women’s basketball tournament could secure between $81 million and $112 million. Auriemma noted, “For years, we’ve been packaged with all the other Olympic sports in one big chunk. Can we separate ourselves and determine our true worth?”
While it appears unlikely that ESPN will willingly terminate its eight-year agreement, which runs through 2032, a significant public outcry—particularly from prominent coaches—could prompt some concessions for women’s college basketball, even if it doesn’t result in a new media deal.
