NCAA-ESPN partnership boosts visibility of women’s sports on air

The NCAA and ESPN reached an agreement for an eight-year, $115 million annual deal, which will cover 40 championships including the women’s college basketball tournament. A record 10 million viewers watched the women’s college basketball championship game. The deal is set to start on Sept. 1, and it’ll total $920 million, three times more than the existing deal. The media coverage and fan attendance for women’s sports have been rising in recent years. Women’s basketball didn’t secure an exclusive deal but made significant progress. The ESPN package does not include the men’s March Madness tournament. The focus is on current women’s sports growth, which is considered a positive step.