Cleveland Final Four showed access to women's sports has changed a generation

kAm|@?52J >@C?:?8 x H@<6 FA 2E cib_ 2]>] r6?EC2= %:>6 E@ >2<6 E96 EC6< 324< E@ s2G6?A@CE] xE H2D 62C=J[ 3FE k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^B4E:>6D]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^92H<6J6D\4=6G6=2?5\7:?2=\7@FC\=:G6\3=@8\8C6E496?\E6D<6^2CE:4=60bfg77eh6\7a5c\``66\ggdh\`ff_6ba6c664]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmDA6?5:?8 >J 6?E:C6 H66<6?5 :? r=6G6=2?5[ H2E49:?8 E96 x@H2 w2H<6J6D 492?86 E96 H@C=5 @7 DA@CEDk^2m H2D H@CE9 6G6CJ D64@?5]k^Am

kAm~? >J H2J 324< 9@>6 x DE2CE65 C67=64E:?8 @? E9:?8D 7C@> E96 H66<6?5] x <?6H E96 ?F>36C @?6 BF6DE:@? H2D 8@:?8 E@ 36[ Q(92E H2D J@FC 72G@C:E6 A2CEnQ w@?6DE=J[ E92EVD 2? :>A@DD:3=6 BF6DE:@? E@ 2?DH6C] qFE :7 x 925 E@[ x H@F=5 D2J :E H2D E96 7:CDE E:>6 x =6E >JD6=7 4CJi $2EFC52J 27E6C?@@?]k^Am

kAmp7E6C 2 76H =@?8 52JD @7 5C:G:?8 2?5 H2=<:?8 2?5 32D<6E32== x H2D 23=6 E@ 2EE6?5 2? @A6? AC24E:46 7@C 3@E9 E96 $@FE9 r2C@=:?2 v2>64@4<D 2?5 E96 x@H2 w2H<6J6D] $@FE9 r2C@=:?2 E@@< E96 7=@@C 7:CDE 2?5 x 7@F?5 2 D62E :? E96 7C@?E C@H[ 2 76H 766E 2H2J 7C@> E96 A=2J6CD]k^Am

kAm(96? E96:C E:>6 H2D FA 2== A=2J6CD D9F77=65 @77 E96 4@FCE[ H2G:?8 E@ E96 4C@H5 2D E96J H6?E] %96? 42>6 E96 6G6?E `h[___ A6@A=6 2EE6?565 7@Ci %96 w2H<6J6 D9@H]k^Am

kAm!C24E:46 :D 7C66 E@ E96 AF3=:4[ 3FE 2 D@=5\@FE 2C6?2 ;FDE 7@C 2 H2C>\FA :D 4@>A=6E6=J F?962C5 @7] p== 2C@F?5 >6 H9:DA6CD @7[ Qx 92G6 ?6G6C D66? 2?JE9:?8 =:<6 E9:DQ 42>6 7C@> 42>6C2 4C6HD 2?5 C6A@CE6CD D:EE:?8 2C@F?5 >6]k^Am

kAmx[ E@@[ 925 ?6G6C D66? 2?JE9:?8 =:<6 :E] p?5 E92EVD H9J x 7:?2==J 4C:65 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6] q642FD6 2D 2 <:5[ E9:D :D 2== x 6G6C H@F=5 92G6 5C62>65 @7] p? @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ D66 :E 92AA6?:?8]k^Am

kAm#:89E 367@C6 E96 E@FC?2>6?E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^B4E:>6D]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^4@=F>?^8C6E496?\E6D<6\2E\7:?2=\7@FC\E96\g\J62C\@=5\32D<6E32==\DE2C^2CE:4=606373gg_c\7bda\``66\hab`\g7g_6`6_f57e]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmx HC@E6 23@FE 9@Hk^2m x 3642>6 2 32D<6E32== 72?[ 3FE x 25>:EE65=J =67E @FE 2 76H 56E2:=D] u@C E9@D6 H9@ 5:5?VE C625 :E[ E96 DE@CJ :D D:>A=6i x C625 2 3@@< @? {:D2 {6D=:6 H96? x H2D g J62CD @=5 2?5 92G6 366? 2 {@D p?86=6D $A2C<D 72? 6G6C D:?46]k^Am

kAm(92E x 5:5?VE E6== J@F 23@FE H2D E96 r9C:DE>2D H96C6 x 2D<65 7@C 2 E2A6 >62DFC6 D@ x 4@F=5 >2C< H96C6 E96 7C66\E9C@H =:?6 H@F=5 36 @? >J 5C:G6H2J] ~C E96 t2DE6C H96? x C6BF6DE65 E96 3F??J @?=J 3C:?8 >6 492=< D@ x 4@F=5 5C2H >@C6 32D<6E32== 4@FCED @? D2:5 5C:G6H2J] uC66\E9C@H =:?6D[ E9C66\A@:?E =:?6D[ =@8@D 2?5 2==]k^Am

kAmp?5 H92E x >@DE 46CE2:?=J 5:5?VE A=2? E@ E6== J@F 23@FE H2D 9@H x H@F=5 7=:A =2F?5CJ 32D<6ED FAD:56 5@H?[ 8C23 2 H@@56? DA@@? E@ FD6 2D 2 >:4C@A9@?6 2?5 DE:4< :E :? >J 525VD D9@6[ >J >2<6D9:7E >:4C@A9@?6 DE2?5[ H9:=6 x C2? >J @H? AC6DD 4@?76C6?46D]k^Am

kAm%9:D A2DE H66<6?5 2D x D2E :? AC6DD 4@?76C6?46D 2?5 H2E4965 A=2J6CD 7:6=5 BF6DE:@?D[ x D>:=65 E9:?<:?8 23@FE >J @H? 9F>3=6 4@?76C6?46D H96C6 x 925 E@ :>28:?6 E96 2F5:6?46] x C62=:K65 92=7H2J E9C@F89 x H2D @? E96 4@>A=6E6 @E96C D:56 @7 E96 A@5:F>[ 2?5 E92EVD D@>6E9:?8 x ?6G6C 6IA64E65]k^Am

kAm%92E H2D @? >J >:?5 2D x H2E4965 E96 492>A:@?D9:A 82>6 7C@> >J A6C49 :? E96 =@H6C 3@H=[ ?6CG@FD=J 9@A:?8 E96 w2H<6J6D 4@F=5 AF== @77 E96 FAD6E] p== 2C@F?5 >6 w2H<6J6 72?D 4966C65 2?JE:>6 2?JE9:?8 H6?E @FC H2J[ 62D:=J 5C@H?:?8 @FE E96 r2C@=:?2 72?D :? 2EE6?52?46]k^Am

kAmpE @?6 A@:?E :? E96 82>6 x @G6C962C5 2?@E96C ;@FC?2=:DE D2J D96 76=E E96 4C@H5 H2D @G6CH96=>:?8=J x@H2 72?D 3642FD6 E96 ?6FEC2= D:E6 :D 4=@D6C E@ E96:C D49@@=] xEVD 2? 6:89E 9@FCD 5C:G6 7C@> x@H2 r:EJ E@ r=6G6=2?5] v2>64@4< 72?D @?=J 925 E@ EC2G6= @?6 9@FC >@C6]k^Am

kAm}@H :7 J@F <?@H >6[ xV> E96 =2DE A6CD@? E@ 8:G6 5:C64E:@?D] xV> E6CC:3=6 H:E9 86@8C2A9J] qFE 6G6? x 42? =@@< E92E FA @? v@@8=6 |2AD] k^Am

kAmx E@@< E92E 4@>>6?E E@ %H:EE6C H96C6 2 E2=6?E65[ 2?5 9:=2C:@FD[ ;@FC?2=:DE 7C@> }@CE962DE x@H2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^EH:EE6C]4@>^#FD9E96HC:E6C^DE2EFD^`fff_dhfbeeafegbcbeQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm>6E :E H:E9 E9:D 8C62E BF@E6k^2mik^Am

kAmQ!6@A=6 5@?VE D66> E@ F?56CDE2?5 9@H H6== x@H2?D EC2G6= 7@C E96:C E62>D] *@F 4@F=5 A=2J 2 82>6 @? |2CD 2?5 :7 :E :?G@=G6D x@H2 @C x@H2 $E2E6[ E9@D6 72?D H:== 36 E96C6 2?5 E96JV== 5C2:? E92E 4@=@?J @7 qFD49 {:89E @C H92E6G6C =:89E DA246 =286C :D 2G2:=23=6]Qk^Am

kAmx 49F4<=65 @G6C E96 DA246 =286C 4@>>6?E E96 C6DE @7 E96 27E6C?@@?[ 6G6? H96? x H2D :? E96 A@DE\82>6 AC6DD 4@?76C6?46 H96? x H2D E9C@H? @77 >J 82>6] ~FE @7 E96 D62 @7 >2=6 ;@FC?2=:DED[ 2 h\J62C\@=5 8:C= :?EC@5F465 96CD6=7 2D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]:?DE28C2>]4@>^E96=:=J;256D9@H^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmsy {:=J y256 @7 hd]d u| :? r=6G6=2?5k^2m 2?5 2D<65 3@E9 r2:E=:? r=2C< 2?5 z2E6 |2CE:? H92E 25G:46 E96J 925 7@C J@F?8 8:C=D]k^Am

kAm%96 3:8 D>:=6D @? E96:C 7246D D9@H65 E9:D >256 E96:C 52J ;FDE 2D >F49 2D :E 5:5 6G6CJ@?6 6=D6 :? E96 C@@>[ 2?5 E96J 82G6 E96 FDF2= 25G:46i 5C62> 3:8 2?5 H@C< 92C5]k^Am

kAmqFE H92E 42F89E >J 2EE6?E:@? H2D E96 =@@< @? {:D2 q=F56CVD 7246i 23D@=FE6=J 36H:=56C65] $96 =@@<65 2C@F?5 2D :7 E@ >2<6 DFC6 6G6CJ@?6 6=D6 2C@F?5 96C H2D D66:?8 H92E D96 H2D D66:?8] %96 @=5 25286 :D J@F 92G6 E@ D66 :E E@ 36 :E] k^Am

kAm(:E9:? >:?FE6D @7 E96 492>A:@?D9:A 82>6 4@?4=F5:?8 E92E H2D AC@G6? E@ 36 H@C<:?8]k^Am

kAmx? E92E D>2== 4@?76C6?46 C@@>[ `__ 766E 7C@> E96 4@FCE[ q=F56CVD 7246 D@7E6?65 E96? EFC?65 E@ AC:56 2D D96 =:DE6?65 E@ {:=J y256VD BF6DE:@?] %96 w2H<6J6 4@249 3=:?<65 D6G6C2= E:>6D 2D D96 D66>:?8=J 7@F89E 324< E62CD 2E E96 C62=:K2E:@? E92E E96 ?6IE 86?6C2E:@? H2D 2=C625J 367@C6 96C 6J6D]k^Am

kAmQ*@F 2C6 H6== @? J@FC H2J[ {:=J[Q q=F56C E@=5 96C 23@FE 96C 7FEFC6 DF446DD] Q*@FVC6 2>2K:?8]Qk^Am

kAm%96 ;FIE2A@D:E:@? @7 36:?8 E96 4@249 =625:?8 E96 >@DE\H2E4965 A=2J6C :? H@>6?VD 4@==686 9@@AD E@ 2=C625J D66:?8 E96 A2J\@77 :D 4@>A=6E6=J F?492CE6C65 E6CC:E@CJ] p?5 H6VC6 ;FDE 86EE:?8 DE2CE65]k^Am

kAmuC:52J[ 367@C6 E96 w2H<6J6D 72465 &r@?? E@ 25G2?46 E@ E96 ?2E:@?2= 492>A:@?D9:A[ E96 {2D '682D p46D 2??@F?465 E96J H6C6 >@G:?8 E96:C yF=J a 82>6 282:?DE E96 x?5:2?2 u6G6C E@ 2 =2C86C G6?F6]k^Am

kAm$F?52J[ E96 492>A:@?D9:A 82>6 282:?DE E96 F?56762E65 v2>64@4<D 2?5 E96 w2H<6J6D A62<65 2E ac >:==:@? G:6H6CD[ E96 >@DE\H2E4965 32D<6E32== 82>6 D:?46 a_`h 2?5 2 agdT :?4C62D6 :? G:6H6CD9:A 7C@> E96 a_aa H@>6?VD ?2E:@?2= 492>A:@?D9:A 82>6]k^Am

kAm%96 7@==@H:?8 52J[ 2 H66< 2H2J 7C@> E96 (}qp 5C27E[ E96 !9@6?:I |6C4FCJ 5C@AA65 2 A@DE6C 25G6CE:D:?8 2 yF?6 b_ 82>6 36EH66? E96> 2?5 E96 x?5:2?2 u6G6C]k^Am

kAm}@H E9:D :D >@?F>6?E2= 7@C 2 76H C62D@?Di r=2C< ?@E 6G6? 366? 5C27E65 J6E[ 2=E9@F89 D96 :D 6IA64E65 E@ >2<6 E96 >@G6 E@ x?5:2?2 2D E96J 92G6 7:CDE 5:3D :? E96 5C27E] (9:=6 E96 p46D 7:?:D965 7:CDE :? E96 =628F6 =2DE J62C[ E96 u6G6C H6C6 `_E9 2?5 |6C4FCJ `aE9 @FE @7 2 5@K6? E62>D]k^Am

kAmp== @7 E9:D >FDE 92G6 42F89E E96 2EE6?E:@? @7 (}qp 6I64FE:G6D[ 4@?D:56C:?8 E96 u6G6C 2??@F?465 @? (65?6D52J be @7 E96:C c_ 82>6D H@F=5 36 3C@2542DE @? ?2E:@?2= %'] x? a_aa[ @?=J aa 82>6D >256 :E E@ E96 3:8\D4C66?] ~7 E9@D6[ @?=J @?6 H2D D9@H? @? t$!}]k^Am

kAm%92E D2>6 ?:89E x 7@F?5 >JD6=7 2E =24C@DD6 AC24E:46 2E rC@H rC66< !2C< :? q6EE6?5@C7] x H2D A2DD:?8 @FE F?:7@C>D 2?5 42DF2==J E@DD65 E96 }@] aa ;6CD6J E@ @?6 @7 >J 8:C=D] w6C >@> 2?5 x D92C65 2 =@@< H9:=6 H6 H2:E65 7@C 96C E@ C62=:K6 H92E D96 H2D H62C:?8]k^Am

kAmQs@ J@F <?@H H9@ 6=D6 H62CD aanQ 96C >@> 2D<65 2D D96 AF==65 :E @?[ 25;FDE:?8 E@ >2<6 DFC6 :E 7:E 4@CC64E=J]k^Am

kAm%96 2?DH6C 2?5 ;2H\5C@A H6C6 D:>F=E2?6@FD]k^Am

kAmQxV> 8@:?8 E@ 36 ;FDE =:<6 r2:E=:? r=2C<PQ D96 D2:5]k^Am

kAmpD 2 <:5[ x 925 E@ >2<6 >J @H? 4@FCE 2?5 %\D9:CED] x 5C6H 9F86 =@8@D @? >J 5C:G6H2J[ 25G6CE:D:?8 2 E62> x 4@F=5 @?=J 42E49 :7 2 82>6 ;FDE D@ 92AA6?65 E@ 36 3C@2542DE @? $2EFC52J >@C?:?8D] }@H[ H6 92G6 h\J62C\@=5D :? AC6DD 4@?76C6?46D] (6 92G6 2C6?2D 7:89E:?8 7@C E96 492?46 E@ D9@H H@>6?VD 9@@AD]k^Am

kAm':6H6CD 92G6 AC@G65 E96 G2=F6 E@ %' ?6EH@C<D E92E :7 J@F[ :? E96 H@C5D @7 r=2C<[ Q8:G6 H@>6?VD DA@CED 2 492?46[ :E E9C:G6D]Qk^Am

kAmpD x D2E :? E92E AC24E:46 @? $2EFC52J 27E6C?@@?[ x C62=:K65 :E H2D 2 A:G@E2= >@>6?E 7@C H@>6?VD DA@CED] q69:?5 >6 9F?5C65D @7 =:EE=6 8:C=D D9@FE65 7@C r=2C< E@ =@@< E96:C H2J[ E@ H2G6[ E@ D>:=6] $96 DE2J65 7@4FD 2?5[ :? 96C 5676?D6[ x 5@?VE E9:?< D96 4@F=5 92G6 962C5 E96>] xE H2D E92E =@F5]k^Am

kAmqFE x E9@F89E 23@FE 9@H E9:D H@F=5 92G6 >256 2 5:776C6?46 7@C >6 2D 2 <:5] x 5:5?VE 92G6 2446DD E@ >2;@C 32D<6E32== E62>D[ :?\A6CD@? @C @? %'] p== @7 E92E 92D 492?865 :? E96 =2DE 76H J62CD[ 2?5 E96 AC@@7 H2D 2== 2C@F?5 >6 :? r=6G6=2?5]k^Am

kAmp? ``\J62C\@=5 7C@> (6DE6C? $AC:?8D[ x==:?@:D[ 96=5 FA 2 D:8? E92E D2:5 D96 DE2CE65 A=2J:?8 32D<6E32== 3642FD6 @7 r2:E=:? r=2C<] %92E 8:C= =:G6D a`a >:=6D 7C@> r2CG6C\w2H<6J6 pC6?2]k^Am

kAmq67@C6 E96 82>6 @? uC:52J E9C66 D:DE6CD[ 286D h[ g 2?5 e[ H6C6 5C6DD65 E@ E96 ?:?6D H:E9 w2H<6J6 862C] %96J H6C6 7C@> |:??62A@=:D[ b_a >:=6D 7C@> r2CG6C\w2H<6J6 pC6?2]k^Am

kAmp9625 @7 $F?52JVD 492>A:@?D9:A x 7@F?5 2? ``\J62C @=5 9@=5:?8 2 D:8? C625:?8[ QxV> ?@E 2 $H:7E:6[ xV> 2 r=2C<:6]Q %92E 8:C= H2D 7C@> u:?5=2J[ ~9:@[ cgd >:=6D 7C@> r2CG6C\w2H<6J6 pC6?2]k^Am

kAm%96?[ @7 4@FCD6[ E96C6 H6C6 E96 "F25\r:E:6D 2C62 <:5D x >6E 2=@?8 E96 H2J] %96 @?6D H9@ 5C62>65 @7 4@>:?8 E@ r=6G6=2?5 2?5 AC@F5=J H@C6 E96:C aa ;6CD6JD 2?5 2C6 @?=J 2? 9@FC 5C:G6 7C@> E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 x@H2]k^Am

kAmqFE 96C6VD H92E 2== @7 E9:D 3@:=D 5@H? E@i x@H2 :D ?@E <?@H? 7@C :ED H@>6?VD 32D<6E32== AC@8C2>] xEVD 2 724E q=F56C 255C6DD65 :? 96C @H? AC6DD 4@?76C6?46] &r@??[ %6??6DD66[ $E2?7@C5[ {$&[ $@FE9 r2C@=:?2 E@A E96 =:DE]k^Am

kAm*6E[ 7@C `h[___ A6@A=6 :?\A6CD@? $2EFC52J 2?5 ac >:==:@? H2E49:?8 7C@> 9@>6 $F?52J[ :E 5:5?VE >2EE6C] %9:D H2D ?@E 2 82>6 23@FE H2E49:?8 =6824J E62>D 32EE=6 :E @FE] k^Am

kAm%9:D H2D 2 82>6 23@FE F?56C5@8D] p3@FE 2? :?4C65:3=6 DBF25 AFE E@86E96C 3J s2H? $E2=6J] p3@FE 9@H >:==:@?D @7 =:EE=6 8:C=D ?2E:@?H:56 H:== ?6G6C 92G6 E@ H@?56C H9J E96J 42?VE D66 A6@A=6 H9@ =@@< =:<6 E96> @? %']k^Am

kAm|@DE :>A@CE2?E=J[ E9:D H2D 2 82>6 7@C 2== E96 8:C=D H9@ 5C6H E96:C @H? 32D<6E32== 4@FCED 2?5 C2? E96:C @H? AC6DD 4@?76C6?46D 2?5 9@A65 E96J 4@F=5 >2<6 :E E@ E96 3:8 DE286 @?6 52J :7 E96J ;FDE H@C<65 92C5] x7 E96J ;FDE 36=:6G65] x7 E96J ;FDE 5C62>65]k^Am

kAm%92E 82>6[ E92E H66<6?5 2?5 36J@?5[ H2D 23@FE 9@H 5C62>D 2C6 7@C 4@>:?8 ECF6] k^Am