The NCAA has received heavy criticism for the wide disparity in facilities and amenities at this year’s men’s and women’s basketball tournaments. Now, one of the best female coaches in the country has a strong opinion on the matter.
South Carolina’s Dawn Staley wrote a blunt open letter on Friday expressing her disgust at the situation. In addition, she accused the NCAA of using women’s games as a pawn in trying to appear sympathetic to the causes of social justice.
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“What we now know is that an NCAA season’s message about ‘union’ and ‘equality’ was about convenience and a catchphrase for the moment created after the assassination of George Floyd,” wrote Staley, who is also the coach. of the US Team.
“We cannot, as young women leaders, allow (NCAA president) Mark Emmert and his team to use us and our student-athletes at their convenience. Each team here in San Antonio has earned and deserves at least the same level of respect. than men. All the teams here have dealt with the same problems as the men’s teams this season; however, their ‘reward’ is different. “
A fire storm started on Thursday, when images of the female bubble in San Antonio were posted on social media. The example that received the most attention was the comic difference in weight training equipment: a single dumbbell rack in women’s facilities vs. a full weight room inside the male bubble in Indianapolis.
There was also criticism of the food on the women’s website and the disparity in courtesy items for male and female participants.
NCAA executives responsible for women’s and men’s basketball, Lynn Holzman and Dan Gavitt, apologized on Friday.
Holzman tweeted on Thursday that space limitations in San Antonio were at the heart of the problem. She told reporters on a call from Zoom on Friday morning that the weight room problems would be fixed on Saturday.
She also said that more food options would be made available and defended the differences in “gains”, calling them “minor” and based on differences in bubble locations.
Staley looked past those two and went straight to the top of the NCAA.
“There is no answer that the NCAA executive leadership led by Mark Emmert can give to explain the disparities,” wrote Staley. “Mark Emmert and his team decided to create them!”
SI.com reported on Friday that the NCAA Women’s Athletics Committee wrote to Emmert requesting an investigation into the weight training disparities.
Dick’s Sporting Goods – perhaps sensing a public relations opportunity – has promised to send equipment to Texas.
Our teammates have trucks of fitness equipment ready to go to the @ncaawbb @ March madness bubble to help the amazing female players! @NCAA Lets do this.
– Sporting Goods DICK (@DICKS) March 19, 2021
It was not clear on Friday night whether the NCAA accepted the offer.
Also on Friday, the fitness chain Orangetheory Fitness offered to host private sessions for teams or to bring equipment to a central location.
The women’s tournament starts on Sunday. South Carolina is the number 1 seed in the Hemisfair region.