Two years after a scathing report on gender equity issues, the NCAA commissioned an external, independent review of its progress at championships.
“A continued commitment to equity must be at the center of everything in college sports,” said National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) President Charlie Baker.
When huge disparities were exposed between the 2021 Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments, ranging from workout facilities to food to swag bags, the NCAA retained the law firm of Kaplan Hecker & Fink LLP to examine gender equity issues throughout the organization.
Kaplan issued a detailed report on its findings and provided recommendations. This year, the NCAA engaged Lewis Rice LLC, a St. Louis-based law firm with a substantial sports practice, to assess the NCAA’s progress in implementing the recommendations in the Kaplan report with reference to 88 of the NCAA’s 90 championships. Division I men’s and women’s basketball were not included.
From March 21, 2023, to July 31, the Lewis Rice attorneys reviewed documents and conducted interviews with 41 NCAA staff members and 29 NCAA committee members. Their “Gender Equity Assessment” was released last week.
Sarah E. Mullen
