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NCAA To Offer Financial Rewards For Women’s Basketball Teams In March Madness Beginning In 2025

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Photo Credit: Elvin L. Anderson Jr.

New York, NY—–Starting this year, the NCAA women’s basketball tournament will introduce financial incentives, marking a major step toward equity in the sport. At the NCAA convention in Nashville, NCAA Division I members voted unanimously to establish two new funds for women’s basketball, a historic move that was met with applause.

The new financial structure, which mirrors the one used in the men’s tournament, will reward teams participating and succeeding in March Madness with “performance units.” These units represent revenue earned, and they will become available starting with the 2025 tournament.

The financial benefits from this year’s tournament will be distributed to conferences in 2026. This vote, passed with overwhelming support (292-0), officially establishes a new era in NCAA history.

The initiative reflects the rapid growth of women’s basketball in recent years, as the NCAA has made significant strides to create greater equity between the men’s and women’s tournaments.

A key milestone in this movement occurred in 2022 when the “March Madness” branding was extended to the women’s tournament, a move long associated with the men’s event.

This new development follows a landmark media deal secured last January, in which ESPN and the NCAA agreed to an eight-year, $920 million agreement for exclusive broadcasting rights to the women’s tournament. This deal played a key role in fostering the discussion about financial rewards for the women’s game.

Photo Credit: Christopher Winslow

According to the NCAA, two funds will be established: the Women’s Basketball Equal Conference Fund and the Women’s Basketball Performance Fund. These funds will begin with $15 million for this year, with an annual increase of $5 million over the next two years, reaching $25 million in the 2027-28 season. After that, the funds will grow at a rate of approximately 2.9% annually, in line with other Division I funds.

Performance units will be distributed on a rolling three-year basis, and a team that advances to the Final Four could generate roughly $1.26 million for its conference.

NCAA President Charlie Baker hailed the vote as a “historic day,” emphasizing the organization’s commitment to investing in women’s sports. “Today’s vote means our members have the opportunity to do even more on campus to support and promote female athletes,” Baker said. “I’m excited to see all the incredible things they will achieve.”

The women’s NCAA tournament will kick off on March 16 with Selection Sunday, followed by the First Four round on March 19-20. The tournament will culminate with the championship game on April 6 in Tampa.