WHEREAS, In 2013, an exhaustive report, known as the “Division I Women’s Basketball White Paper,” was compiled by Val Ackerman to address the state of women’s basketball for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The report details concerns and recommendations from those interviewed over a six month period. However, since 2013, the NCAA has failed to address many of these issues; and
WHEREAS, Earlier this month, a video posted by Oregon forward Sedona Prince, along with other pictures and videos on social media, exposed stark differences between the quality of weight-training facilities in San Antonio for women’s basketball teams, and those in Indianapolis for the men’s basketball championship; and
WHEREAS, Prince’s video amassed millions of views, as well as attention from NBA players like Steph Curry and United States senators like Chris Murphy, sparking outrage and leading the NCAA to apologize and provide more resources to women’s teams, such as improved weight-training facilities and a website dedicated to addressing gender inequity; and
WHEREAS, Further disparities in this year’s tournaments, such as the swag-bags for men’s and women’s teams, branding of March Madness, food options available, and the type of COVID-19 testing being done for men and women, have been highlighted, as well as the poor playing conditions and lack of media coverage of the NCAA women’s volleyball tournament; and
WHEREAS, Because the NCAA is not a public institution, it is not subject to Title IX rules. However, the NCAA has also failed to meet its own standard of conduct according to its constitution regarding gender equity; and
WHEREAS, The governance structure of the NCAA is very convoluted, and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, which is supposed to focus on Title IX, has been largely cut out of decision-making processes; and
WHEREAS, Although the NCAA has begun to address Prince’s video, the recent events have shed light on a deeper problem ingrained in the culture of basketball. Women’s basketball has historically been neglected and denied equal billing in comparison to men’s basketball, and systemic change is necessary; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That Council hereby calls on the National Collegiate Athletic Association to reevaluate its policies and practices related to gender equity; and to implement steps to close gender gaps in all sports and divisions.
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