The NCAA announced Thursday that the Division I men’s and women’s basketball committees have “begun exploring” the possibility of hosting both the men’s and women’s Final Fours in the same city after a third-party gender equity review recommended the change this summer. According to an NCAA statement, the earliest the change would happen is 2027 since both events have contracts in place with host cities through 2026.
“We are committed to continuing discussion about the concept of conducting both the Women’s and Men’s Final Fours in the same city in the next bid cycle for each of these premier NCAA Championships,” said Nina King, the Division I Women’s Basketball Committee chair and Duke athletic director. “Finding ways to address the gender equity issues that have come to exist through the years between the Division I Women’s and Men’s Basketball Championships is a priority, and we are dedicated to making impactful changes.”
The suggestion to combine the men’s and women’s Final Fours was one of many made by the law firm Kaplan Hecker & Fink in a 115-page report released in early August following well-publicized disparities between the amenities at the 2021 men’s and women’s NCAA Tournaments. On Wednesday, the NCAA announced it is implementing one of the review’s other suggestions by expanding the March Madness branding synonymous with the men’s NCAA Tournament to the women’s NCAA Tournament beginning in 2022.
Host cities are slated to be announced for the 2027 through 2031 men’s and women’s Final Fours in the fall of 2022, which means the Division I Women’s and Men’s Basketball Committees will need to finalize recommendations in the relatively near future.
“Members of both committees, who will continue to meet jointly to discuss this topic, will spend time exploring ways to develop an overarching goal of a combined championship that boosts student-athlete experience and fan and stakeholder engagement,” the NCAA statement said.
