DISPARITY BETWEEN JACKSON STATE, NORFOLK STATE, AND POWER CONFERENCES

No. 3 UConn (30-5) had $8.5 million in total operating expenses, 11x more than No. 14 Jackson State University (26-7) from 2021-22. According to EADA reported by the Jackson State athletic department for the 2022-23 season, the women’s basketball team’s total expenses were $894,572.00. Its game-day expenses for lodging, meals, transportation, uniforms, equipment, event costs, and officials were $218,802.00. That’s an average of $13,675.00 for 16 Lady Tigers basketball program participants.

A snapshot of the total 2022-23 operating expenses for the No. 3 UConn women’s basketball team was $10,468,272.00 for a difference of $9,573,700.00 to the Jackson State women’s basketball team. The staggering difference directly correlates with the top seeds dominating the lower seeds. Get this fact from Lev Akabas’ report, “Top three seeds are 347-1 historically in the round of 64 and have won all 41 titles. No. 1 seeds have won 10 of the past 11 national championships.”

Geno Auriemma expressed a concern for HBCUs and mid-major schools while playing in the NCAA Women’s Championship:

“I do think they suffer from the same thing that a lot of mid-major schools suffer, getting people that are at a high level, getting them to want to play you [Jackson State]. It’s really, really hard to put together a schedule when you’re in their situation because everybody just wants you to come to their place, and they’ll pay you some money to come there, but they’ll never come to your place and play.”

No. 14 Jackson State Tigers (26-6) will play No. 3 UConn Huskies (29-5) at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Connecticut on Saturday, March 23.

• Game Day: Saturday, March 23, 2024
• Game Time: 12:00 PM CT
• Location: Gampel Pavilion Court, Storrs, Connecticut
• Broadcast: ABC
• Tournament Round Info: Portland 3 Region

Related: Coach Tomekia Reed Guides The Jackson State Lady Tigers To Win Her Third SWAC Women’s Basketball Tournament Title, Earns Trip To NCAA

No. 15 Norfolk State Spartans (27-5) will face No. 2 Stanford Cardinal (28-5) at 1:00 PM ET in Maples Pavilion in Stanford, California on Friday, March 22.

• Game Day: Friday, March 22, 2024
• Game Time: 1:00 PM ET
• Location: Maples Pavilion in Stanford, California

Related: The Norfolk State Lady Spartans Win Back-To-Back MEAC Women’s Basketball Tournament Titles Over The Howard Lady Bison