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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
Date
Network
Location
Play-by-play announcer
Color analyst(s)
Sideline reporter(s)
Studio host
Studio analyst(s)
1982
CBS (championship game)
Norfolk Scope (Norfolk, Virginia )
Frank Glieber
Cathy Rush
1983
Ann Meyers
1984
Pauley Pavilion (Los Angeles, California )
1985
CBS (championship game)ESPN (national semifinals)
Frank Erwin Center (Austin, Texas )
Frank Glieber Jim Thacker
Pat Summitt Mimi Griffin
1986
Rupp Arena (Lexington, Kentucky )
Gary Bender Leandra Reilly
Mimi Griffin
1987
Frank Erwin Center (Austin, Texas )
Tim Brant Leandra Reilly
Mimi GriffinCheryl Miller
1988
Tacoma Dome (Tacoma, Washington )
Tim Brant Roger Twibell
1989
Tim Brant Steve Physioc
1990
Thompson–Boling Arena (Knoxville, Tennessee )
Tim Brant Bob Rathbun
Mimi Griffin
Andrea Joyce
Andrea Joyce
1991
CBS
Lakefront Arena (New Orleans, Louisiana )
Brad Nessler
Andrea Joyce and Mary Carillo
1992
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena (Los Angeles, California )
Ann Meyers
Andrea Joyce
1993
The Omni (Atlanta, Georgia )
Tim Ryan
Andrea Joyce and Mary Carillo
1994
Richmond Coliseum (Richmond, Virginia )
Andrea Joyce
1995
Target Center (Minneapolis, Minnesota )
Sean McDonough
Dan Bonner
Sheryl Swoopes
1996
ESPN
Charlotte Coliseum (Charlotte, North Carolina )
Mike Patrick
Robin Roberts
Mimi Griffin
1997
Riverfront Coliseum (Cincinnati, Ohio )
Mimi Griffin and Rebecca Lobo
1998
Kemper Arena (Kansas City, Missouri )
1999
San Jose Arena (San Jose, California )
Pam Ward and Jennifer Azzi
2000
First Union Center (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania )
Michele Tafoya and Vera Jones-Soleyna
Jay Bilas and Vera Jones-Soleyna
2001
Savvis Center (St. Louis, Missouri )
Michele Tafoya and Pam Ward
Nell Fortner and Vera Jones
2002
Alamodome (San Antonio, Texas )
2003
Georgia Dome (Atlanta, Georgia )
Doris Burke and Pam Ward
Rece Davis
Nell Fortner and Stacey Dales
2004
New Orleans Arena (New Orleans, Louisiana )
Doris Burke
2005
RCA Dome (Indianapolis, Indiana )
Doris Burke and Mark Jones
Stacey Dales and Lisa Leslie
2006
TD Garden (Boston, Massachusetts )
Doris Burke
Holly Rowe and Mark Jones
Trey Wingo
Kara Lawson and Stacey Dales
2007
Quicken Loans Arena (Cleveland, Ohio )
2008
St. Pete Times Forum (Tampa, Florida )
Holly Rowe and Rebecca Lobo
2009
Scottrade Center (St. Louis, Missouri )
Kara Lawson and Carolyn Peck
2010
Alamodome (San Antonio, Texas )
Dave O'Brien
2011
Bankers Life Fieldhouse (Indianapolis, Indiana )
2012
Pepsi Center (Denver, Colorado )
2013
New Orleans Arena (New Orleans, Louisiana )
Kevin Negandhi
2014
Bridgestone Arena (Nashville, Tennessee )
Holly Rowe
Kara Lawson and Rebecca Lobo
2015
Amalie Arena (Tampa, Florida )
2016
Bankers Life Fieldhouse (Indianapolis, Indiana )
Beth Mowins
2017
American Airlines Center (Dallas, Texas )
Dave O'Brien
Doris Burke and Kara Lawson
Maria Taylor
Rebecca Lobo and Andy Landers
2018
Nationwide Arena (Columbus, Ohio )
Adam Amin
Kara Lawson and Rebecca Lobo
Rebecca Lobo , Nell Fortner and Andy Landers
2019
Amalie Arena (Tampa, Florida )
2020
Not held because of the COVID-19 pandemic
2021
ESPN
Alamodome (San Antonio, Texas )
Ryan Ruocco
Rebecca Lobo
Holly Rowe and LaChina Robinson
Maria Taylor
Andy Landers and Carolyn Peck
2022
Target Center (Minneapolis, Minnesota )
Holly Rowe and Andraya Carter
Elle Duncan
Rebecca Lobo , Nikki Fargas and Carolyn Peck
2023
ABC (championship game)ESPN (national semifinals)
American Airlines Center (Dallas, Texas )
Rebecca Lobo , Monica McNutt , Carolyn Peck and Andraya Carter
Notes
There was no TV coverage of the national semifinals prior to 1985 .
All 63 games were broadcast on television from 2003 to 2019 on ESPN and ESPN2 with added coverage on ESPNU and ESPN3 since 2006. Local teams are shown on each channel when available, with "whip-around" coverage during the first and second rounds designed to showcase the most competitive contests in the rest of the country. All regional semifinals, regional finals and Final Four games were televised nationally in exclusive windows.
In 2021 ESPN3 coverage was dropped (except for streaming of ABC games). Instead all 63 games were shown nationally in exclusive windows on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews , and ABC .
Beginning in 2022 the tournament expanded to 67 games with all being shown nationally in exclusive windows on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews, and ABC.
Radio
Date
Network
Location
Play-by-play announcer
Color analyst(s)
Sideline reporter(s)
Studio host
2006
Westwood One
TD Garden (Boston, Massachusetts )
Beth Mowins
Debbie Antonelli
Krista Blunk
Brad Sham
2007
Quicken Loans Arena (Cleveland , Ohio )
Joe Tolleson
2008
St. Pete Times Forum (St. Petersburg, Florida )
2009
Scottrade Center (St. Louis, Missouri )
2010
Alamodome (San Antonio, Texas )
2011
Conseco Fieldhouse (Indianapolis, Indiana )
2012
Dial Global
Pepsi Center (Denver, Colorado )
Dave Ryan
2013
New Orleans Arena (New Orleans, Louisiana )
2014
Westwood One
Bridgestone Arena (Nashville, Tennessee )
2015
Amalie Arena (Tampa, Florida )
John Sadak
Lance Medow
2016
Bankers Life Fieldhouse (Indianapolis, Indiana )
2017
American Airlines Center (Dallas, Texas )
2018
Nationwide Arena (Columbus, Ohio )
2019
Amalie Arena (Tampa, Florida )
2020
Not held because of the COVID-19 pandemic
2021
Westwood One
Alamodome (San Antonio, Texas )
Ryan Radtke
Debbie Antonelli
Krista Blunk
Lance Medow
2022
Target Center (Minneapolis, Minnesota )
2023
American Airlines Center (Dallas, Texas )
External links
Tournaments
Structure Champions & awards Media Records & statistics
Current broadcast partners Secondary broadcast partners Specialty broadcast partners Former broadcast partners General media Commentators by network Broadcasters by event Other