The NCAA Women’s National Championship media coverage proved a need for more diverse representation with decision-makers inside the newsroom and broadcast booth. The South Carolina and Iowa clash became the most-viewed women’s basketball game since 1992, with 18.7 million viewers. The game has outpaced the men’s tournament contests since 2019. At one point, Nielsen reported 24 million viewers at its peak. Amazing.
Dawn Staley’s remarkable achievement of securing her third national championship with her Gamecocks team should’ve been the focal point for the media — but it wasn’t. However, media bias online, in print, and during the broadcast demonstrated an inequity in one of the greatest moments for women’s sports. Especially, a day before the championship game when a reporter attempted to create a pivotal news story regarding Coach Staley’s stance on transgenders in sports.
ABC MISSED THE REAL MOMENT TO MAKE HISTORY
ABC’s production before, during, and following the game slanted for Caitlin Clark and Iowa, eventually overshadowing South Carolina’s tremendous accomplishment. Whoever made the call in the booth must be replaced or realize that broadcasting inequity is a thing of the past.
It no longer has a place. Fair reporting and representation are necessary across all our sports communities and platforms.
Dawn Staley’s team is 38-0. She joined an elite club of nine collegiate coaches to lead their teams to an undefeated season and national championship title. The three-time national championship coach takes her rightful place among Geno Auriemma, John Wooden, Pat Summit, Kim Mulkey, Phil Woolpert, Frank McGuire, Bob Knight, and Jody Conradt as “The Unbeatens.”
REVISIONIST BROADCASTING
The producer clung to the advertised storyline, unwilling to make the edit. Dawn Staley had an all-new starting lineup. Last year’s starters found new homes via the 2023 WNBA Draft.
She trusted her players, especially the freshmen, filled with abundant talent and confidence. After Clark rattled off 18-first quarter points, she made a cataclysmic switch. Raven Johnson was to guard the sharpshooter.
Staley had the faith and belief Johnson could shut down the all-time NCAA scoring leader. What happened next was legendary.
Last night and this morning, little was mentioned in the headlines of Johnson’s masterful defensive job against the sharpshooter.
She stole the basketball twice, blocked her shot, locked her down, made her shots, and frustrated Iowa’s greatest hope. Raven Johnson found redemption. After Clark repeatedly waved her off in last year’s semifinal game, Johnson doesn’t have to watch video of that game another day of her life.
As the Gamecocks’ faces were beaming with smiles and Iowa’s dream slowly fading, ESPN decided against spotlighting Raven Johnson, Kamilla Cardoso, Te-Hina Paopao, MiLaysia Fulwiley, Ashlyn Watkins, Tessa Johnson, Montes Claros, Sania Feagin, Chloe Kitts, Bree Hall, and Sakima Walker. Instead, the cameras and attention of the network were drawn to the star player of the losing team, the Iowa bench, and their walk down the tunnel to the locker room.
At points during the broadcast, ESPN’s play-by-play announcer Ryan Ruocco slanted his more positive commentary toward Iowa. Two, in particular, categorize Clark’s talent as having “video-game vision” and making treys as she “shoots from the future.”
I get it. It’s the dramatic flair for television, but there weren’t as vivid portraits of the South Carolina players as you rewind the tape. Ruocco’s best delivery for the champs was “Raven Johnson picks the pocket of Clark” before expanding the lead by three before halftime.
MEDIA MUST HAVE TRUE REPRESENTATION WITHIN THE NEWSROOM AND BROADCAST BOOTH
Media outlets must do a better job portraying our athletes. Jim Trotter spoke out against the NFL Network’s lack of minority representation as managers on the newsdesk, which seems to be the case within the production booth at ABC/ESPN.
For now, the South Carolina Gamecocks will celebrate. Coach Dawn Staley will praise “The Lord.” History is set. For the rest of those young ladies’ lives, they will be known as the 2024 Undefeated Women’s Basketball National Champions! Will it make much of a difference to the media decision-makers?
We shall see.
