On Tuesday, Dawn Staley of South Carolina and Tara VanDerveer of Stanford called for Congress to intervene in regard to the NCAA's handling of women's basketball tournaments in the wake gender inequity allegations.Both coaches discussed the differences between the San Antonio (men's) and Indianapolis (women's) basketball tournaments. This was criticized this spring in a video conference with several members from the Democratic Women's Caucus. These differences include a wide disparity in weight-room facilities, the absence of an outside exercise area and variations in COVID-19 testing.The NCAA president Mark Emmert acknowledged that the NCAA had "lost the ball" with the women's tournament.VanDerveer, who won the national championship with Stanford, said that it's more like they have always taken the air out the ball. "The NCAA tournament is just the tip of the discrimination iceberg. Women's basketball has been systematically hampered by sexism and lack of vision. Our coaches and players have been hurt. We still have a lot to do after 49 years of Title IX."Staley added: "It is important, but imperative that Congress address inequalities that currently exist between women's and men's basketball. I graduated college in 1992 and have been a coach collegiately for 21 year. These inequalities still exist, unfortunately.Staley also mentioned the March NCAA report that examined championships across all three divisions. Emmert stated then that it was designed to identify any gaps in gender equity and to help with the quantitative and qualitative aspects of the process. The law firm Kaplan Hecker and Fink LLP are currently working on the report and it is expected to be completed by this summer.VanDerveer said Tuesday that Staley and Staley hoped all of the contents of the report would be made public.Let's face it, this is the NCAA. Staley stated that we need to trust but verify. The NCAA is the client of the investigator in this case. We may not know all the details due to attorney-client privilege. They will only release what they want, and not what we need."So, I'm here today as a member of Congress to request a hearing on the issue. Ask this question: "How can the NCAA allow gender-based discrimination at their flagship competition?" It is time to level the playing fields... so that the inequalities this spring were a thing of the passé."Anna Wilson, a Stanford guard, also spoke with lawmakers during the call.Wilson stated, "I'm not here to be a victim. I am here because the system in which my mental and physical energy has been directed is better." Wilson said, "But, what is obvious for me and thousands more female athletes is not apparent to those who aren't involved in college athletics.Equity is about having access to resources and considering the needs of all people, not just a selected gender. Four of my nieces were there for the national championship. If they decide to play collegiate athletics, I hope their experience is better than mine. There have been significant improvements in gender equality and collegiate athletics. It's not enough.Jackie Speier, DWC co-chair from California, stated that a letter will be sent to NCAA asking for the Kaplan report to be made public.Speier stated, "I am now considering even asking the General Accountability Office for their own review."Lori Trahan, a congresswoman from Massachusetts, spoke out about government involvement in the debate on name, image, and likeness (NIL). She also stated that the issue of gender inequity needs to be addressed.Neena Chaudhry (Title IX legal expert at the National Women's Law Center) also spoke on the call. She discussed the issues that were raised by coaches at other women's sporting championships, such as softball, volleyball, and golf. There were many complaints about these sports, including problems with venues or scheduling and facilities.Chaudhry stated that high schools provide more opportunities for boys than for girls. "Girls from color have the least opportunities to participate in sports at school. We know that nearly 90% of NCAA schools offer athletic participation opportunities for male students, which is disproportionately high compared to their enrollment.The DWC was established with the support and assistance of Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), introduced the Even Playing Field Act, which ensures equal pay, investment, and working conditions for U.S. national team athletes, coaches, and other personnel. The Act would require national governing bodies to ensure that female athletes receive wages and working conditions that are comparable to male athletes. Equal investment and promotion for women and their teams would also be required. Every NGB would be required to report to Congress on gender equity progress. Similar legislation was proposed in the past.Participants on Tuesday's conference call suggested that additional government oversight could be beneficial to gender equality in collegiate sport.Staley is also currently the coach of the U.S. Olympic Women's Basketball team. As a member of Team USA, she was a three-time Olympic gold winner. She also participated in the 1996 Atlanta Games as VanDerveer's coach. Both coaches are aware of the similarities between gender-equity struggles in college and national teams.VanDerveer agreed with Staley when he said that a Congressional hearing would be a good first step.VanDerveer stated, "I believe with a hearing that would just bring some more out in the open."
