March Madness Brings Equal Perks to South Carolina and Columbia, Including New Funding for Women’s Teams

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The Columbia women’s basketball team, which typically plays in a cozy 2,700-seat gym in Manhattan, has now found itself in the national spotlight. This year, just like powerhouse programs such as UConn, South Carolina, and Tennessee, the Lions are receiving the same attention, and for the first time ever, they’re getting paid to be there.

Beyond the typical perks of charter flights, hotel stays, and tournament swag, women’s teams now get an individual share of the tournament profits—something men’s teams have enjoyed for years.

UNC Greensboro’s coach, Trina Patterson, expressed her thoughts on the new development, saying, “It should be this way. We should be able to fly charter. We are all playing in the same March Madness, the treatment for the men and women should be equal. We get a unit!”

Indeed, each women’s team now receives a “unit”—money paid to conferences when a team plays in the NCAA Tournament. To break it down, conferences earn $113,000 for every game their women’s team plays in the tournament. In past years, Columbia, which made the tournament last year, didn’t see any of that money, as neither the Lions nor the Ivy League benefited from the appearance.

Columbia’s coach, Megan Griffith, shared her excitement, saying, “You got to start somewhere and I think we’ve been so far behind. I think of Sedona Prince and it’s really cool to see that she’s still able to play at a high level on a big stage. This is more like the whipped cream. I think the cherry on top is going to keep coming, but this it’s really good so far.” Prince’s viral video from 2020 helped highlight the disparities between the men’s and women’s tournaments, sparking significant change.

Trina Patterson has seen it all. As a former player at Virginia in the 1980s under Geno Auriemma, and later an assistant coach at Stanford under Tara VanDerveer, she knows the challenges and rewards of big-time basketball. Her UNCG Spartans, a 16th seed, are experiencing this newfound treatment, as they enjoy a cross-country charter flight from Greensboro to Los Angeles, where they’ll face top-seeded Southern California. This marks UNCG’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1998.

Meanwhile, William & Mary is making its historic debut in March Madness, with a chance to earn two financial units. The Tribe’s play-in game against High Point could see them face top-seeded Texas if they win.

Erin Dickerson Davis, head coach of William & Mary, reflected on the long-awaited moment, stating, “It should have always been that way. Women’s basketball has been fighting for equality for a very long time. I’ve been in this business for many, many years. I played college basketball, it’s a long time coming.” She added, “Everyone is so excited about the experience, going from the bus directly to the plane, everyone was so happy. Yes, we’re here on a business trip and we want to win. But just to be able to have these experiences for them that no one has done at William & Mary is special.”

For Columbia, the excitement is palpable. The Lions aren’t in Chapel Hill for spring break—they’re here with a clear goal. However, they’re still soaking in the experience. Junior Perri Page said, “It was cool going to the charter and we’ve been taking it all in. But it’s a business trip and we have a goal in mind.”

Their journey has mirrored that of many other teams: a bus ride from their New York campus to Newark Airport, a proud one-hour charter flight to Chapel Hill, and the thrill of receiving tournament swag. But, of course, there’s a game to be played, and it’s a big one. Still, for many players, the experience is a moment to savor.

As Page put it, “We’ve been enjoying the whole season. It’s great we can make money for the school now.”

In the words of Trina Patterson: “It’s great for women’s basketball.”