List of NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament Final Four broadcasters explained

In 1982, the first Division I NCAA women's basketball tournament was held. The NCAA was able to offer incentives, such as payment of transportation costs, to participating members, something the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women was not able to do. When former AIAW powerhouses like Tennessee, Louisiana Tech, and Old Dominion decided to participate in the NCAA tournament, the AIAW tournament lost much of its appeal and popularity.

NBC canceled its TV contract with the association, and in mid-1982 the AIAW stopped operations in all sports. Following the last AIAW sanctioned event in 1982, the AIAW pursued a federal antitrust suit against the NCAA. But one year later, after the presiding judge ruled against the organization, the AIAW ceased existence on June 30, 1983.

Under NCAA governance, scholarships increased. However, several problems the NCAA was facing, then and now, began to also affect women's intercollegiate athletics. Examples of these include recruiting irregularities and increased turnover in coaching positions for revenue-producing sports.

Several AIAW championships were televised by the TVS Television Network in 1979.

Television

DateNetworkLocationPlay-by-play announcerColor analyst(s)Sideline reporter(s)Rules analyst(s)Studio hostStudio analyst(s)
1982CBS (championship game)Norfolk Scope
(Norfolk, Virginia)
Frank GlieberCathy Rush
1983Ann Meyers
1984Pauley Pavilion
(Los Angeles, California)
1985CBS (championship game)
ESPN (national semifinals)
Frank Erwin Center
(Austin, Texas)
Frank Glieber
Jim Thacker
Pat Summitt
Mimi Griffin
1986Rupp Arena
(Lexington, Kentucky)
Gary Bender
Leandra Reilly
Mimi Griffin
1987Frank Erwin Center
(Austin, Texas)
Tim Brant
Leandra Reilly
Mimi Griffin
Cheryl Miller
1988Tacoma Dome
(Tacoma, Washington)
Tim Brant
Roger Twibell
1989Tim Brant
Steve Physioc
1990Thompson–Boling Arena
(Knoxville, Tennessee)
Tim Brant
Bob Rathbun
Mimi GriffinAndrea JoyceAndrea Joyce
1991CBSLakefront Arena
(New Orleans, Louisiana)
Brad NesslerAndrea Joyce and Mary Carillo
1992Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
(Los Angeles, California)
Ann MeyersAndrea Joyce
1993The Omni
(Atlanta, Georgia)
Tim RyanAndrea Joyce and Mary Carillo
1994Richmond Coliseum
(Richmond, Virginia)
Andrea Joyce
1995Target Center
(Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Sean McDonoughDan BonnerSheryl Swoopes
1996ESPNCharlotte Coliseum
(Charlotte, North Carolina)
Mike PatrickRobin RobertsMimi Griffin
1997Riverfront Coliseum
(Cincinnati, Ohio)
Mimi Griffin and Rebecca Lobo
1998Kemper Arena
(Kansas City, Missouri)
1999San Jose Arena
(San Jose, California)
Pam Ward and Jennifer Azzi
2000First Union Center
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Michele Tafoya and Vera Jones-SoleynaJay Bilas and Vera Jones-Soleyna
2001Savvis Center
(St. Louis, Missouri)
Michele Tafoya and Pam WardNell Fortner and Vera Jones
2002Alamodome
(San Antonio, Texas)
2003Georgia Dome
(Atlanta, Georgia)
Doris Burke and Pam WardRece DavisNell Fortner and Stacey Dales
2004New Orleans Arena
(New Orleans, Louisiana)
Doris Burke
2005RCA Dome
(Indianapolis, Indiana)
Doris Burke and Mark JonesStacey Dales and Lisa Leslie
2006TD Garden
(Boston, Massachusetts)
Doris BurkeHolly Rowe and Mark JonesTrey WingoKara Lawson and Stacey Dales
2007Quicken Loans Arena
(Cleveland, Ohio)
2008St. Pete Times Forum
(Tampa, Florida)
Holly Rowe and Rebecca Lobo
2009Scottrade Center
(St. Louis, Missouri)
Kara Lawson and Carolyn Peck
2010[1] Alamodome
(San Antonio, Texas)
Dave O'Brien
2011[2] Bankers Life Fieldhouse
(Indianapolis, Indiana)
2012[3] Pepsi Center
(Denver, Colorado)
2013[4] New Orleans Arena
(New Orleans, Louisiana)
Kevin Negandhi
2014[5] Bridgestone Arena
(Nashville, Tennessee)
Holly RoweKara Lawson and Rebecca Lobo
2015[6] Amalie Arena
(Tampa, Florida)
2016[7] Bankers Life Fieldhouse
(Indianapolis, Indiana)
Beth Mowins
2017[8] American Airlines Center
(Dallas, Texas)
Dave O'BrienDoris Burke and Kara LawsonMaria TaylorRebecca Lobo and Andy Landers
2018[9] Nationwide Arena
(Columbus, Ohio)
Adam AminKara Lawson and Rebecca LoboRebecca Lobo, Nell Fortner and Andy Landers
2019[10] Amalie Arena
(Tampa, Florida)
2020Not held because of the COVID-19 pandemic
2021[11] ESPNAlamodome
(San Antonio, Texas)
Ryan RuoccoRebecca LoboHolly Rowe and LaChina RobinsonMaria TaylorAndy Landers and Carolyn Peck
2022[12] Target Center
(Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Holly Rowe and Andraya CarterElle DuncanRebecca Lobo, Nikki Fargas and Carolyn Peck
2023[13] ABC (championship game)
ESPN (national semifinals)
American Airlines Center
(Dallas, Texas)
Rebecca Lobo, Monica McNutt, Carolyn Peck and Andraya Carter
2024[14] Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
(Cleveland, Ohio)
Holly RoweLisa Mattingly and Denny MeyerAndraya Carter, Chiney Ogwumike, Carolyn Peck and Aliyah Boston

Notes

Radio

DateNetworkLocationPlay-by-play announcerColor analyst(s)Sideline reporter(s)Studio host
2006Westwood OneTD Garden (Boston, Massachusetts)Beth MowinsDebbie AntonelliKrista BlunkBrad Sham
2007Quicken Loans Arena (Cleveland, Ohio)Joe Tolleson
2008St. Pete Times Forum (St. Petersburg, Florida)
2009Scottrade Center (St. Louis, Missouri)
2010Alamodome (San Antonio, Texas)
2011Conseco Fieldhouse (Indianapolis, Indiana)
2012Dial GlobalPepsi Center (Denver, Colorado)Dave Ryan
2013New Orleans Arena
(New Orleans, Louisiana)
2014Westwood OneBridgestone Arena
(Nashville, Tennessee)
2015Amalie Arena
(Tampa, Florida)
John SadakLance Medow
2016Bankers Life Fieldhouse
(Indianapolis, Indiana)
2017American Airlines Center
(Dallas, Texas)
2018Nationwide Arena
(Columbus, Ohio)
2019Amalie Arena
(Tampa, Florida)
2020Not held because of the COVID-19 pandemic
2021Westwood OneAlamodome (San Antonio, Texas)Ryan RadtkeDebbie AntonelliKrista BlunkLance Medow
2022Target Center (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
2023American Airlines Center (Dallas, Texas)
2024Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (Cleveland, Ohio)Ros Gold-Onwude

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2010-04-01 . 2010 ESPN Women's NCAA Final Four Fact Sheet . 2010-04-01 . ESPN Press Room U.S. . en-US.
  2. Web site: Margolis. Rachel. March 14, 2011. ESPN Networks to Air All 63 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship Games. ESPN. 14 Mar 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20140328094943/http://espnmediazone.com/us/press-releases/2011/03/espn-networks-to-air-all-63-ncaa-division-i-women%E2%80%99s-basketball-championship-games/. March 28, 2014. dead.
  3. Web site: Margolis. Rachel. March 13, 2012. ESPN2 and ESPN3 Open NCAA Women's Basketball Championship Coverage. ESPN. 13 Mar 2012.
  4. Web site: Margolis. Rachel. March 19, 2013. ESPN Home to NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship Coverage. ESPN. March 19, 2013. January 25, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140125055557/http://espnmediazone.com/us/press-releases/2013/03/ncaawearlyrounds/. dead.
  5. Web site: Margolis. Rachel. March 18, 2014. ESPN Networks to Present Entire NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship. ESPN. 18 Mar 2014.
  6. Web site: Margolis. Rachel. March 12, 2015. 2015 NCAA Women's Basketball Championship Bracket Unveiled Monday on ESPN. ESPN. 12 Mar 2015.
  7. Web site: Margolis Siegal. Rachel. March 15, 2016. ESPN Networks Home to Entire NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship. ESPN. 15 Mar 2016.
  8. Web site: 2017-03-29 . Women's Final Four Presented by Capital One on ESPN – Extensive, Multiplatform Coverage from Dallas . 2017-03-29 . ESPN Press Room U.S. . en-US.
  9. Web site: 2018-03-28 . Women's Final Four Presented by Capital One Exclusively on ESPN and ESPN2 . 2018-03-28 . ESPN Press Room U.S. . en-US.
  10. Web site: 2019-04-04 . Women's Final Four Presented by Capital One Exclusively on ESPN and ESPN2 . 2019-04-04 . ESPN Press Room U.S. . en-US.
  11. Web site: 2021-04-01 . NCAA Women's Final Four Presented by Capital One Presented Exclusively on ESPN . 2021-04-01 . ESPN Press Room U.S. . en-US.
  12. Web site: 2022-03-30 . ESPN's Unprecedented MegaCast Presentation of 2022 NCAA Women's Final Four Tips Off Friday . 2022-03-30 . ESPN Press Room U.S. . en-US.
  13. Web site: 2023-03-29 . The Dance Descends on Dallas: ESPN's MegaCast Presentation of the 2023 NCAA Women's Final Four Tips Off Friday, March 31 . 2023-03-29 . ESPN Press Room U.S. . en-US.
  14. Web site: 2024-04-03 . Calling on Cleveland! ESPN's MegaCast Presentation of the 2024 NCAA Women's Final Four Tips Off Friday, April 5 . 2024-04-03 . ESPN Press Room U.S. . en-US.