Basketball, College

Women's collegiate basketball has grown from its humble beginnings in the gymnasiums and physical education programs at women's colleges to become the most visible and popular college team sport for women in the United States. With a rich history and vibrant future, it continues to inspire considerable spectator and participation interest.

Although women's college basketball was riding a wave of increased popularity as the 1990s ended and a new century began, similar battles continue to be fought in athletic departments.

Prior to Title IX, nearly 90 percent of women's collegiate teams were coached by women. Although the legislation was a boom for female participation, female coaches of women's collegiate basketball teams steadily have been replaced by men. In 1990, 72.2 percent of women's collegiate basketball teams at the Division I level were coached by women. A decade later, the number has dropped to 69 percent. In 2010, the number of female coaches dips to 47.5 percent at the Division II level and 54.8 percent in Division III basketball. Overall in college sports, only 42.6 percent of women's programs are led by a female. Concerning salary, the average salary for a Division I men's basketball coach was $409,600, more than double the $187,300 salary average for women's basketball coaches.

Regarding budget and scholarship money devoted to women's sports, the numbers still lag behind their male counterparts. Overall, women athletes receive only 45 percent of scholarship dollars, nearly $166 million less than male athletes. This is compounded by the inequitable amount of resources dedicated to athlete recruitment, because only 33 percent of recruitment budgets are earmarked for women's sports. Overall, women receive only 36 percent of athletic operating resources, a figure that amounts to $1.5 billion less than money spent on men's athletics.

While women athletes fight for visibility, media coverage still remains scarce on major networks. Studies have shown that major newspapers devote 11 percent of sports coverage to women's sports. On ESPN's premiere show, SportsCenter, in 1999 and 2004, only 2 percent of telecast time was devoted to women's sports. In their 2003 “NCAA College Hoops Preview,” ESPN magazine featured 65 men's teams and only eight women's squads.