TRENDING

image: @ncaawbb

It all came to a head on TikTok Thursday, ahead of 2021 March Madness. NCAA athlete Sedona Prince posted a video comparing the training spaces mens' and womens' teams are being provided for their time at the tournament in the following weeks.

@sedonerrr

it’s 2021 and we are still fighting for bits and pieces of equality. ##ncaa ##inequality ##fightforchange

♬ original sound - Sedona Prince

Sedona, an Oregon Ducks sophomore, showed off the weight rooms for each team in a video that has now gone viral with over 2.9 million views. The mens' training facility in Indianapolis is a fully-stocked weight training facility. The women's room in San Antonio? One set of weights and a pile of yoga mats.

"If you aren't upset about this problem, then you're a part of it," Sedona says in the video.

Sedona isn't the first to comment on the NCAA's gender disparity. The training room issue first came to light when Stanford coach Ali Kershner tweeted out photos side-by-side early Thursday.

@ncaawbb @ncaa this needs to be addressed. These women want and deserve to be given the same opportunities.

3 weeks in a bubble and no access to DBs > 30’s until the sweet 16?

In a year defined by a fight for equality this is a chance to have a conversation and get better. pic.twitter.com/jFQVv1PlUt

— Ali Kershner, MS, CSCS (@alikershner) March 18, 2021

In a statement released by the NCAA after Kershner's tweet, officials said the disparity wasn't a matter of funding, but a matter of space.

"In part, this is due to the limited space and the original plan was to expand the workout area once additional space was available later in the tournament," the NCAA Women's Basketball said in a tweet.

Statement from Lynn Holzman, NCAA VP of women’s basketball.#ncaaW pic.twitter.com/gYsesS9Hky

— NCAA Women’s Basketball (@ncaawbb) March 18, 2021

But Sedona's TikTok speaks for itself.

"Here's our practice court, here's that 'weight room' and here's all this extra space," she says while panning the video to film a large, empty room. 

Soon after, others began sharing comparisons on social media, from food options to sponsorships.

From what I have been shown it appears the swag bags that the Men receive from the @NCAA are much more substantial than the Women as well. @ncaawbb @marchmadness. C'mon NCAA do better. Be better! pic.twitter.com/tDRjI9e5UJ

— Dan Henry (@danhenry3) March 18, 2021

Friday evening, the NCAA responded to the backlash in another Twitter statement.

"We have intentionally organized basketball under one umbrella [at the NCAA] to ensure consistency and collaboration. When we fall short on these expectations, it’s on me,” NCAA Senior Vice President of Basketball Dan Gavitt said.

“I apologize to women’s basketball student-athletes, coaches and the women’s basketball committee for dropping the ball on the weight rooms in San Antonio."

Just like Sedona says in her TikTok's caption: It's 2021. Women's basketball shouldn't have to be fighting for bits and pieces of equality.

by Erin Sargent | 3/19/2021