March Madness will pay women's teams under a new structure approved by the NCAA Women's basketball teams finally will be paid for playing games in the NCAA Tournament each March just like the men have for years under a plan approved Wednesday at the NCAA convention.
The unanimous vote by NCAA membership, which was met by a round of applause, was the final step toward a pay structure for women playing in March Madness after the Division I Board of Governors voted unanimously for the proposal in August.
NCAA President Charlie Baker joined others in giving credit for the creation of a performance fund to those who came before and helped build women's basketball.
In the first year, $15 million will be awarded to teams out of the fund, which is 26% of the women’s basketball media revenue deal.
So-called performance units, which represent revenue, will be given to women's teams playing in the tournament starting this year, the event's 43rd edition.
