March Madness: A Deep Dive into Women's Basketball Inequality
- Dawn Weatherwax, RD,LD,ATC,CSCS
- Mar 21, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 18
“March Madness: A Deep Dive into Women's Basketball Inequality"
Did you know that until as recently as 2022, women's basketball wasn't allowed to use the term 'March Madness'? It's a shocking fact, but unfortunately, it's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to inequalities in the sport.
The March Madness Moniker
For years, March Madness has been synonymous with the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. Meanwhile, the women's tournament has been kept in the shadows, even denied the right to use the same captivating caption. Only in 2022 was this rule overturned. This step, although a small victory, highlights the long-standing disparities between men's and women's sports. Follow more sports nutrition facts at
Missing Incentives in Women's Basketball
Did you know that even today, women's basketball doesn't get the same incentives from the NCAA during March Madness? This lack of equal treatment extends far beyond just the name of the tournament. It directly affects the resources, facilities, and opportunities available to female athletes.
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The Strength Coach Disparity
Consider this: Does your private all-girls school have a strength coach, like boys' schools
do? The lack of strength and conditioning support for female athletes starts early and continues throughout their careers. It's not just an issue at the collegiate level; it begins in junior and high school sports programs.
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The Need for a Level Playing Field
Female athletes need strength training too. It's important to focus on weightlifting and strength conditioning from a young age.
Not only does it improve athletic performance, but it also reduces the risk of injuries. Yet, many female sports programs lack a dedicated strength coach. This deficiency needs to be addressed to ensure that girls have the same opportunities as boys to build their strength and excel in their chosen sports.
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Time for Change
These inequalities in women's basketball and sports, in general, need to be rectified. It's time to even the playing field and provide all athletes, regardless of gender, with the sa
Fueling Youth Sports
Proper nutrition is a critical part of youth
sports. It's essential to understand how much fuel young athletes need, what they should eat, and when. Proper hydration also plays a significant role in their
performance and recovery. Join Dawn Weatherwax's Sports Nutrition Academy for comprehensive guidance on building a better student-athlete through nutrition and testing. This will optimize their growth, academic performance, and athletic ability.
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The Cheerios™ Team Challenge
The Cheerios™ Team Challenge is a fun and exciting way to promote healthy eating and team bonding. The challenge is simple: You, a DUO or a team must incorporate any Cheerios™ flavor in your meal or snack. The goal is to NOT exceed 12 grams of added sugar within the meal or snack.
Tag and post a pic #cheeriosteamchallenge @sportsnutritiontogo to participate. https://www.facebook.com/groups/cheeriosteamchallenge/
Meet the Wonder Woman Behind the Challenge
Get ready to meet Dawn Weatherwax, the wonder woman behind Sports Nutrition 2Go and Dawn Weatherwax's Sports Nutrition Academy. She is the mastermind behind this challenge and she is committed to promoting healthy eating habits among athletes, coaches, parents and everyone else. Don't wait, gather yourself, a DUO or a team and participate in the Cheerios Team Challenge today. Let's get this party started!
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Summary: Women's Participation in March Madness
This document discusses the disparities in the representation and treatment of women in the sports world, particularly in relation to the popular March Madness basketball tournaments. The document highlights the fact that the term "March Madness" was only permitted to be used in women's basketball from 2022 onwards.
22 million men and 3 million women participated in the ESPN Brackets in 2023.
There is an ongoing issue with the NCAA not offering the same incentives to women's teams during March Madness as they do for men's teams.
There are questions raised about whether all-girls schools have strength coaches, similar to boys' schools.
The focus on strength and weight training for junior and high school female athletes is underlined, with a call for more focus on this aspect of training.
The issue of gender disparity in sports is not just a problem at the collegiate level, but starts from a young age.
FAQs for “March Madness: A Deep Dive into Women's Basketball Inequality”
1. Why couldn’t women’s basketball use “March Madness” until 2022?The NCAA reserved the term “March Madness” for the men’s tournament for decades. It wasn’t until public outcry and equity audits that women’s teams were finally allowed to use it — revealing deeper gender bias in collegiate sports branding.
2. Are women’s basketball players still treated unequally during March Madness?Yes. NCAA incentives, travel accommodations, training facilities, media coverage, and fan engagement still lag far behind what male athletes receive — despite equal effort and talent.
3. Why is strength training so important for female athletes?Strength training prevents injuries, boosts performance, and builds confidence. Yet many female sports programs don’t have access to a certified strength coach, putting young girls at a disadvantage starting as early as middle school.
4. How can I help close the performance gap for female athletes?Start by ensuring your athlete gets access to proper nutrition, strength training, and recovery education. You can also advocate for equal resources in schools and participate in campaigns like the Cheerios™ Team Challenge.
5. What is the Cheerios™ Team Challenge?It’s a fun, inclusive competition promoting low-sugar, performance-fueling snacks using any Cheerios™ flavor. Teams or individuals create snacks under 12g of added sugar and post using #CheeriosTeamChallenge + @sportsnutritiontogo.Join here
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