NCAA President Defends Women's Tournament Format Amid Coaches' Criticism

Charlie Baker pushes back on Geno Auriemma's complaints about the double-regional setup, citing increased attendance and viewership.

Apr. 4, 2026 at 5:35am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented, multi-angled view of a women's basketball game, with sharp planes of color and movement capturing the energy and intensity of the sport.The NCAA's double-regional format for the women's tournament has drawn both praise and criticism, with the data showing increased attendance but some coaches concerned about the player experience.Fort Worth Today

NCAA President Charlie Baker defended the women's basketball tournament's double-regional format, which has faced criticism from coaches like Geno Auriemma. Baker argued that the format has led to increased attendance, ticket sales, and viewership, despite concerns from coaches about the impact on the player experience. The NCAA has already booked regional sites for the next two years and is exploring options to potentially spin off the women's tournament into its own media rights deal.

Why it matters

The debate over the women's tournament format highlights the ongoing efforts to grow the game and provide the best possible experience for players and fans. As the NCAA looks to the future, balancing the needs of coaches, players, and the business side of the sport will be crucial to continuing the tournament's momentum.

The details

The NCAA shifted to a double-regional format in 2023, reducing the number of regional sites from four to two. This change has drawn criticism from coaches like Geno Auriemma, who argue it has negatively impacted the player experience. However, NCAA President Charlie Baker defended the format, citing increased attendance, ticket sales, and viewership. The total attendance for this year's regional rounds was 78,475, the fourth-highest ever and about 16,000 more than the final season of the four-regional format in 2022. Ticket sales and total revenue for the Women's NCAA Tournament also reached a record $4.4 million this year. Baker acknowledged concerns about scheduling and said the NCAA committee will review the feedback, but maintained that the data shows the format is working.

  • The NCAA shifted to a double-regional format in 2023.
  • The total attendance for the 2026 regional rounds was 78,475, the fourth-highest ever.
  • The NCAA has already booked regional sites for the 2027 and 2028 tournaments.

The players

Charlie Baker

The president of the NCAA who defended the women's tournament's double-regional format.

Geno Auriemma

The UConn women's basketball coach who has been a vocal critic of the double-regional format, arguing it has negatively impacted the player experience.

Kim Mulkey

The LSU women's basketball coach who, along with Vic Schaefer of Texas, criticized the NCAA for the double-regional format a season ago.

Vic Schaefer

The Texas women's basketball coach who, along with Kim Mulkey of LSU, criticized the NCAA for the double-regional format a season ago.

Cori Close

The UCLA women's basketball coach who wants coaches to have a greater voice in decision-making around the tournament format and other issues.

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What they’re saying

“'Does anybody who makes these decisions ever ask the coaches and the players, hey, does this work? Do you guys do this during the regular season? Is this normal? … I just don't understand some of the decisions that are made about our game when we're trying to grow the goddamn game.'”

— Geno Auriemma, UConn Women's Basketball Coach

“'The one big thing that the basketball committee has always said is they want the experience for the kids in the arena to be loud, boisterous, enthusiastic and full and bigger. And if you look at all the data — the ticket data, the attendance data, the viewership data — it's all gone up dramatically over the past few years.'”

— Charlie Baker, NCAA President

“'I do think when you have balanced representation in decision-making bodies, you usually end up in a better place. I think it would be wise if we took a step back. Where are we? How are our structures working? What adjustments need to be made to just enhance it? You get in trouble when you make big swell swoops.'”

— Cori Close, UCLA Women's Basketball Coach

What’s next

The NCAA basketball committee will review the feedback on the double-regional format and make decisions about potential changes for future tournaments.

The takeaway

The debate over the women's tournament format highlights the ongoing efforts to balance the needs of coaches, players, and the business side of the sport as the NCAA looks to continue growing the game. While the data shows the double-regional format has led to increased attendance and viewership, some coaches remain concerned about the impact on the player experience, underscoring the need for greater collaboration and transparency in the decision-making process.