Women's NCAA Tournament Transformed After Viral Inequity Videos

Sedona Prince's 2021 TikTok exposing weight room disparities sparked a wave of changes that have elevated the women's tournament experience.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 11:22pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An abstract, expressionist painting in neon colors featuring fragmented, dissolving figures of basketball players in motion, capturing the raw energy and emotion of the women's NCAA tournament.The viral videos that exposed inequities in the women's NCAA tournament sparked a revolution, transforming the event into a marquee showcase of dynamic athleticism and growing popularity.San Antonio Today

The 2021 NCAA women's basketball tournament was a pivotal moment, as viral videos from Oregon player Sedona Prince highlighted the stark inequities between the men's and women's tournament bubbles. This sparked outrage and a reckoning that has led to sweeping changes, including the women's tournament now having its own robust media day, influencer houses, swag bags, and an outside tournament village - elements that were once unimaginable. While some inequities remain, the women's tournament has been transformed, with skyrocketing ratings and attendance in the years since.

Why it matters

The 2021 viral videos exposed deep-seated inequities in resources, amenities, and branding between the men's and women's NCAA tournaments. This sparked a national conversation and forced the NCAA to confront gender disparities, leading to significant improvements in the women's tournament experience. The changes have helped grow the women's game, with increased viewership and attendance, cementing the tournament as a marquee event on par with the men's.

The details

In 2021, all NCAA tournament teams were quarantined in the same bubble in San Antonio due to COVID-19. This led to Oregon player Sedona Prince posting a TikTok video showing the tiny weight room set up for women's teams, in stark contrast to the expansive facilities for the men. The video went viral, sparking outrage and a reckoning. Since then, the women's tournament has undergone a transformation, now featuring elements like influencer houses, swag bags, a robust media day, and an outside tournament village - amenities that were once unimaginable. While some inequities remain, such as the two-regional format that UConn coach Geno Auriemma has criticized, the overall tournament experience has been elevated.

  • In 2021, the NCAA tournament was held in a bubble in San Antonio due to COVID-19.
  • Sedona Prince posted her viral TikTok video during the 2021 tournament.
  • The 2023 women's Final Four features new elements like influencer houses and a tournament village.

The players

Sedona Prince

A former player for the University of Oregon women's basketball team whose viral TikTok video in 2021 exposed the stark inequities between the men's and women's tournament bubbles, sparking a national reckoning.

Cori Close

The head coach of the UCLA women's basketball team, who praised the changes that have transformed the women's tournament experience in the years since the 2021 inequity scandal.

Angela Dugalic

A UCLA women's basketball player who competed in the 2021 tournament bubble and reflected on how much the tournament experience has improved since then.

Geno Auriemma

The longtime head coach of the University of Connecticut women's basketball team, who has criticized the NCAA's decision to hold two women's regionals at a single venue as an ongoing inequality issue.

Rori Harmon

A player for the University of Texas women's basketball team who has noticed significant improvements in the amenities and resources provided to players in the women's tournament.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I couldn't be prouder. I was in the bubble when it got exposed, some of the differences. Now March Madness for the women is just normal now. Everything that's in our locker room today when we walked in the arena or when we got to the hotel is the same as what the men were.”

— Cori Close, UCLA Women's Basketball Coach

“It was such a vast moment. But it was a little insulting at the time, and I'm grateful we have grown so much since then.”

— Angela Dugalic, UCLA Women's Basketball Player

“We're super grateful to get all the swag and to go to the Tourney Town, stuff they give us in the locker room. We're super grateful. I've noticed a change just in the stuff they give us. They give more.”

— Rori Harmon, University of Texas Women's Basketball Player

“Everybody made such a big deal out of it. This is my 25th Final Four. Not once has any of my players said, 'Hey, Coach, can I go lift weights?' It was the biggest embarrassment of all time that caused the uproar that it did. Then the NCAA scrambling around going, 'We have to be equal to the men.' There are things like the regionals that are important.”

— Geno Auriemma, University of Connecticut Women's Basketball Coach

What’s next

The NCAA will continue to evaluate gender equity across all its championships, with a focus on addressing remaining disparities in the women's tournament format and resource allocation.

The takeaway

The 2021 viral videos exposing inequities in the women's NCAA tournament were a pivotal moment that sparked sweeping changes, transforming the tournament experience and helping drive unprecedented growth in viewership and attendance for women's college basketball. While some inequities remain, the tournament has been elevated to a marquee event on par with the men's tournament.