NCAA Celebrating 25th Anniversary of Women's Championships
3/20/2006 12:00:00 AM | General
March 20, 2006
VOTE FOR WOMEN'S TRACK ATHLETES
INDIANAPOLIS -- The NCAA will celebrate the 2005-06 athletic season as the 25th anniversary of several NCAA Women's Championships.
The NCAA recognizes the following women's championships as those celebrating their 25th anniversary this athletic season: Division I and III women's field hockey; Division I, II and III women's cross country; Division I, II and III women's volleyball; Division I, II and III women's swimming; Division I, II and III women's basketball; National Collegiate women's gymnastics; Division I, II and III women's tennis; Division I women's golf; Division I women's lacrosse; Division I women's rowing; Division I and II softball; and Division I, II and III women's outdoor track.
"This is an exciting time for women's athletics," said Judy Sweet, NCAA Senior Vice-President for Championships and Education Services. "The NCAA wants to recognize those individuals who were leaders in advancing opportunities for women and developing the extensive menu of women's championships. We especially want to celebrate the outstanding achievements of student-athletes who compete today in our NCAA women's sports and championships. Celebrating the 25th anniversary of NCAA women's championships is an excellent opportunity for colleges and universities to say thank you for the memories and creatively plan for the next 25 years," Sweet said.
The NCAA provided its 1,020 member colleges, universities and conferences with an activation kit to encourage schools to promote the 2005-06 season as the 25th anniversary of women's championships. Campus recognitions may include the naming of anniversary teams, promotional activities and events, specific banners and signage in venues, program inserts and special awards. Activation kits were provided to all NCAA Division I, II and III colleges and universities in an effort to assist with the initiatives on their campuses.
In 1981, the NCAA began sponsoring women's championships, which opened the door to increased athletic and academic opportunities for female athletes. Today, the NCAA sponsors 44 women's championships in 20 sports, providing more than 150,000 women with an opportunity to compete for national titles each year.
Women's championships continue to evolve. In 1982, a souvenir program for the NCAA Division I women's basketball championship was $2.50 and 9,531 fans attended the event. In 2004, the Women's Final Four drew a sellout crowd of 28,210 in New Orleans. Nearly 600 media credentials were issued for the 2004 Women's Final Four and fans paid close to $150 a seat and $10.50 for a souvenir program.
In 2004, the Division I women's lacrosse championship game drew 4,922 spectators, whereas in 1982, the championship total attendance for all rounds was 242. In 1995, the totals for all rounds of the Division I women's lacrosse championship surpassed more than 9,200 spectators. In 2002, the Division I women's championship game alone drew a record 5,422 fans. Additionally, numbers at the Division II women's lacrosse championship have grown over the last two years, and more than 2,000 fans have attended the Division III women's lacrosse championship since 1987.
Growing interest has sparked the creation of additional NCAA championships. The NCAA added women's rowing to the championships ranks in 1996, followed by women's ice hockey and women's water polo in 2001 and women's bowling in 2003.
For more information on NCAA women's championships, visit www.ncaasports.com.