Sports

Players, coaches call out NCAA for unequal accommodations at men's, women's NCAA tournaments – Yahoo

Published

4 years ago

March 20, 2021

Players and coaches from several women’s college basketball teams called out the NCAA on Thursday for the unequal access it has provided to weight rooms and equipment during March Madness.

Men’s teams have access to a full weight room at their NCAA tournament in Indiana.

Women’s teams, on the other hand, don’t have access to a weight room of any kind until the Sweet 16, multiple performance coaches said.

In the meantime, their accommodations are meager. Women’s basketball “only has access to 1 stationary bike and a ‘weight pyramid’ for the first 2 rounds,” Texas director of sports performance Zack Zillner said on Twitter.

Ali Kershner, the performance coach at top-seeded Stanford, posted a comparison of the two setups on Instagram.

“This needs to be addressed,” she wrote. “These women want and deserve to be given the same opportunities.”

The heaviest weights on the pyramid, according to Kershner, are 30 pounds.

The weight rooms that will be available to women’s teams if they advance to the Sweet 16 will feature two bikes, a treadmill, adjustable benches, weight racks, bars and dumbbells.

According to Molly Binetti, the performance coach for No. 1 seed South Carolina, the dumbbells will be “up to 50 [pounds] because women can’t lift more than that,” as she wrote, presumably sarcastically, on Twitter.

The NCAA’s response

When asked about the inequities, the NCAA did not address them directly, but issued the following statement, attributed to NCAA vice president of women’s basketball Lynn Holzman:

“We acknowledge that some of the amenities teams would typically have access to have not been as available inside the controlled environment. 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. However, we want to be responsive to the needs of our participating teams, and we are actively working to enhance existing resources at practice courts, including additional weight training equipment.”

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the entire men’s tournament is taking place in and around Indianapolis. The entire women’s tournament is taking place in and around San Antonio.

In Indianapolis, a massive convention center houses 12 practice courts and six full-size weight rooms. Teams are able to reserve the training spaces for blocks of time. Strength coaches appear to be happy with what they have at their disposal:

In San Antonio – where the entire convention center is significantly bigger than the one in Indianapolis, but where the exhibit hall floor is slightly smaller – there are large spaces that, as of Thursday afternoon, remain mostly unfilled.

More criticism, other inequities

Oregon center Sedona Prince posted a video on social media exposing the differences, and “all this extra space” that, as of Thursday afternoon, was unused:

An NCAA representative told Yahoo Sports that organizers initially didn’t believe there was sufficient space for dedicated weight rooms. But after a walking tour of the convention center on Wednesday, they realized there was in fact space for weightlifting equipment adjacent to the practice courts.

It’s unclear why that walkthrough didn’t happen before Wednesday, after some teams had already arrived in San Antonio, and four days before the start of the tournament.

Prince also posted videos to social media that appeared to show inequities between the food available to men’s and women’s teams. Some women’s players are reportedly “only eating the snacks they brought,” rather than the provided meals.

According to UConn coach Geno Auriemma, there are also inequities in COVID-19 testing. Women’s teams, he said on a conference call with reporters, are getting antigen tests, while men’s teams get the more accurate PCR tests. An NCAA spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment on testing inequities.

NCAA committee calls for investigation

On Friday, the NCAA’s committee on women’s athletics sent a letter to NCAA president Mark Emmert to request an “independent investigation into how this situation occurred.”

“I write to express the committee’s shock and disappointment over the disparate treatment of our women student-athletes,” committee chair Suzette McQueen wrote, “and the inequitable availability of strength training facilities. This appears to extend to limited food options and other tournament-related amenities.

“The NCAA has acknowledged that this is ‘disrespectful.’ In the committee’s view, it is more than that. It undermines the NCAA’s authority as a proponent and guarantor of Title IX protections, and it sets women’s college athletics back across the country.”

NEW: The NCAA’s committee on women’s athletics sent a letter to NCAA president Mark Emmert today demanding an independent investigation into disparities at the basketball tournaments.

The situation “sets women’s college athletics back across the country,” the letter says. pic.twitter.com/MJKzPNGiML

— Molly Hensley-Clancy (@mollyhc) March 19, 2021

“This deserves attention,” Kershner, the Stanford coach, wrote in her post. “In a year defined by a fight for equality this is a chance to have a conversation and get better.”

Texas A&M athletic director Ross Bjork chimed in: “I appreciate that [NCAA women’s basketball] staff is working on a solution but this is unacceptable to begin with.”

“If you aren’t upset about this problem,” Prince said, “then you’re a part of it.”

NCAA apologizes

Speaking to reporters in Indianapolis on Friday, NCAA president Mark Emmert addressed the inequities. He called the weight training disparities “inexcusable” and “deeply disappointing.”

“I want to be really clear,’’ Emmert told The New York Times, The Athletic and USA Today. “This is not something that should have happened, and should we ever conduct a tournament like this again, will ever happen again.’’

NCAA vice president of men’s basketball Dan Gavitt also took responsibility. “We have intentionally organized basketball under one umbrella (at the NCAA) to ensure consistency and collaboration,” he said in a statement. “When we fall short on these expectations, it’s on me.

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

More from Yahoo Sports:

Let’s block ads! (Why?)

Source link

Sports

Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.

“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”

Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.

The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.

Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.

“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”

Pakistan hosted last year’s Asia Cup but all India games were played in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model for the tournament. Only months later Pakistan did travel to India for the 50-over World Cup.

Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.

“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”

The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.

“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”

Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.

“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.

___

AP cricket:

Source link

Sports

Dabrowski, Routlife into WTA doubles final with win over Melichar-Martinez, Perez

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.

Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.

The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.

The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.

Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.

Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

Source link

Sports

Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.

The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.

Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.

There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.

Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.

But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.

The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”

The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.

Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.

Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.

Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.

Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.

“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”

“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.

Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.

Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.

The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.

Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.

Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.

Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.

Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.

Canada Roster

Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).

Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).

Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).

Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).

—

Follow @NeilMDavidson on X platform

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

Source link