NCAA women’s basketball players are celebrating this weekend after receiving an upgrade in the weight room, after complaints that women’s facilities were inferior compared to men’s.
NCAA women’s basketball posted a photo of the new gym on Twitter, stating: “The weight room is here!
Earlier this week, Stanford University sports performance coach Ali Kershner shared images on Instagram of a small dumbbell stand in the women’s weight room next to an image of a vast expanse of benches, supports and dumbbells in the room of male bodybuilding.
“[T]your needs must be met, “wrote Kershner in the post.
“These women want and deserve the same opportunities. Not only that – 3 weeks in a bubble and no access to databases over 30 until sweet 16? In a year defined by a fight for equality, this is a chance to have a chat and get better. “
On Saturday, a new post on social media was circulating, featuring improved facilities, including new dumbbells and racks, as well as bands and other exercise equipment.
“Guess what, guys? We have a new weight room,” said one player in the video posted on TikTok and Twitter. “Thank you NCAA for listening to us. We thank you all.”
On Friday, Lynn Holzman, NCAA’s vice president for women’s basketball, said in a statement that the association “failed” to provide equitable facilities for female basketball players.
“As a former female basketball student-athlete, it has always been my priority to make this event the best possible experience for everyone involved,” she said. “We fell short of what we’ve been doing this year to prepare for the past 60 days for 64 teams to be here in San Antonio.”
NCAA Women’s Basketball Committee President Nina King added that she is “confident that as a women’s basketball community, we can work together and resolve deficiencies here in San Antonio and move on.”