BYU women’s basketball thrilled by progress towards leveling the playing field – Daily Herald

BYU senior Teagan Graham celebrates a good play during the WCC game against Gonzaga at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022. (Jaren Wilkey, BYU Photo)

BYU senior forward Teagan Graham plays basketball with a lot of passion and heart, often showing her emotions on the court.

But if you really want to see her fired up, ask her about efforts to level the playing field between mens and womens college basketball, particularly as part of the NCAA tournaments.

Im really excited about that, Graham said Sunday after the Cougars earned the No. 6 seed for the Big Dance. I think big things are coming in that area.

The fact the BYUs matchup was shown on Selection Sunday, just after the bracket was revealed for the mens tournament was announced, was an example of the drive for change. The womens tournament also is also titled March Madness, just like the mens event.

Grahams efforts to help people understand what female college athletes go through go beyond just her experiences as a player.

I just finished my masters thesis on it and I did a podcast called Second Class citizens, which is on Spotify and on Apple Podcasts now that looks at gender equity in Division I sports, Graham said. I think theres going to be big changes, especially this tournament.

She believes that the need to demonstrate that female athletes deserve the same respect as their male counterparts is becoming much more clear.

I think theres a lot of pressure on the NCAA to drastically improve from last years tournament, Graham said. Obviously everyone knows about the weight rooms and all the disparities from last year. Its also about having the bigger conversation about promotion and womens coverage and investment. Its asking all the big questions about why women dont get more or whats happening with TV coverage and things like that.

She knows that change like this wont happen overnight but shes optimistic about the possibilities moving forward.

I think theres a long way to go, Graham said. But its vital that this conversation is held right now around this time to make sure that it is still being had with people who have power and influence to make change.

BYU head coach Jeff Judkins has coached the Cougar womens team since 2001 and thus has seen things evolving over the last two decades. He also likes the direction things are going for women athletes right now.

I think its a big plus, Judkins said. I just think its so exciting to be able to have a lot of the same things that the men have. I think these these ladies deserve it. They work hard. They do whatever it takes. Basketball is becoming way more popular in the female game with more crowds, more support, better coaches, the players are getting a lot better TV exposure. All those things are coming into place and its exciting to be part of it. Twenty years ago when I started it wasnt like what it is right now and I think its just going to keep growing.

Judkins, Graham and the rest of the BYU squad are currently getting ready for their first-round matchup in the NCAA tournament.

The Cougars earned a No. 6-seed and will play No. 11-seed Villanova on Saturday in Ann Arbor, Michigan at 1 p.m. EDT. That game will be broadcast on ESPNEWS.

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BYU women's basketball thrilled by progress towards leveling the playing field - Daily Herald