Vice President Harris is known for being an avid sports fan who has shown her support for her alma mater, Howard University, by attending sporting events like the Celebration Bowl and Howard’s NCAA men’s basketball tournament game. However, a recent comment she made about the NCAA Division I women’s basketball tournament has come under scrutiny. Harris suggested that women’s teams were not allowed to have brackets until 2022, which was when the tournament earned the March Madness branding. Despite this miscalculation, Harris expressed excitement about the increased attention women’s sports are receiving and the larger platform they now have.
Prior to 2022, the popular March Madness branding was exclusively associated with the NCAA men’s tournament. However, brackets have been used for women’s games since the early 1980s, a fact that seemed to have been overlooked by Harris in her recent comment. The inaugural NCAA Division I women’s basketball tournament took place in 1982 and has been a significant part of women’s college basketball ever since. Harris’s earlier social media post also revealed her bracket from 2021, in which she had predicted South Carolina and USC meeting in the title game, with the Gamecocks winning the championship. However, USC was eliminated by UConn in the Elite Eight, showcasing the unpredictable nature of the tournament.
The current NCAA women’s tournament has seen star players such as Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, JuJu Watkins, Paige Bueckers, and Madison Booker bringing unprecedented attention to women’s college basketball. Despite Harris’s error in suggesting that brackets were only recently introduced for women’s games, she emphasized the progress that has been made in providing women with a larger platform in sports. Harris highlighted the importance of visibility in promoting women’s sports and recognizing the talented and gifted athletes who compete at a high level. The increased coverage and attention on women’s sports have shifted the narrative from questioning interest in women’s sports to celebrating the achievements of female athletes.
The Final Four of the women’s NCAA tournament features matchups between South Carolina and NC State, as well as Iowa and UConn. Star players Aziaha James, Caitlin Clark, and Paige Bueckers will be key players in these games, showcasing the talent and skill present in women’s college basketball. Despite the challenges and mishaps faced by the season, the women’s NCAA tournament has shattered viewing records, indicating the growing popularity and interest in women’s sports. Harris’s enthusiasm for women’s sports, along with her support for her alma mater Howard University, demonstrates her commitment to promoting and celebrating the achievements of female athletes in the NCAA tournament and beyond.
While Harris’s comment about brackets in the women’s tournament may have been inaccurate, her overall message about progress and the increased visibility of women’s sports rings true. The attention brought to women’s college basketball by star players and the excitement generated by the NCAA women’s tournament indicate a shifting landscape towards greater recognition and appreciation for women’s athletics. Harris’s support for Howard University and her passion for sports underscore the importance of promoting gender equality and highlighting the achievements of female athletes in all levels of competition. As the women’s Final Four unfolds and the tournament reaches its conclusion, the spotlight on women’s college basketball continues to grow, showcasing the talent and skill of female athletes on a national stage.
