Big moment for women's NCAA Tournament also marred by missteps

A huge disparity between the men's and women's weight rooms drew attention to the women's NCAA Tournament for all the wrong reasons in 2022, starting a conversation about equity that has carried over into today. Then this season brought the mismatched three-point lines in Portland, Ore.

The incorrectly drawn lines were among a series of miscues that have been a backdrop to what's otherwise been a big moment for women's basketball.

The issues have had little to do with the players on the court or the fans in the stands. There have been record-setting crowds and historic TV ratings, headline-grabbing moments from Caitlin Clark and JuJu Watkins, and the epic Elite Eight duels between Iowa and LSU, and UConn and USC.

It was only two seasons ago that the tournament's field grew to 68 teams just like the men's side, and the women were finally able to use the March Madness and Final Four branding that had previously been exclusive to the men.

The three-point lines are different on each side of the court in Portland for the Elite Eight. The NCAA measured pregame and confirmed one side is a different three-point length than the other.