Amanda Knapp
Will Brand is the name of an American former college basketball player and a former professional basketball player. In college, Brand played as a forward for Albany, NY. In professional basketball, there is also a player named Will Barton, who played for the Denver Nuggets and the Washington Wizards. Additionally, there is a well-known basketball player named Elton Brand, who played for the Philadelphia 76ers and is now their general manager. The name Will Brand also appears in the context of the NCAA's decision to use the March Madness brand for the Division I Women's Basketball Championship to enhance gender equity and elevate the women's game.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Elton Tyron Brand |
| Born | March 11, 1979 |
| Nationality | American |
| Position | General Manager of the Philadelphia 76ers |
| Former Position | Basketball Player |
| College | Duke University |
| Teams Played For | Chicago Bulls, Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, Atlanta Hawks |
| Awards | Two-time NBA All Star, All-NBA Second Team selection in 2006 |
| Jersey Number | 42, 7 |
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What You'll Learn
March Madness branding for the DI Women's Basketball Championship
The NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship will use March Madness branding and marketing, starting with the 2022 tournament. The decision was made following a comprehensive external review of gender equity issues in connection with NCAA championships. The Division I Women's Basketball Oversight Committee played a significant role in the adoption of the March Madness brand, voting unanimously in favour of it.
The committee's decision was motivated by the desire to achieve greater equity between the men's and women's championships. Historically, the "March Madness" phrase has been reserved for the men's tournament. By adding the March Madness trademark to the women's tournament, the committee aims to enhance the development and public perception of the women's game.
The brand recognition that March Madness carries will also broaden marketing opportunities for the women's championship. According to Lynn Holzman, vice president of women's basketball at the NCAA, the move will help "enhance and grow the game" by leveraging the brand value of March Madness.
The 2022 tournament, which will culminate with the Women's Final Four on April 1-3 in Minneapolis, marks a significant step forward in elevating the profile of women's basketball and addressing gender disparities within the NCAA.
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Gender equity in NCAA championships
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has taken several steps to promote gender equity in its championships, specifically in Division I basketball. One notable initiative is the decision to incorporate the March Madness brand into the marketing and branding of the Division I Women's Basketball Championship, beginning with the 2022 tournament. This move is expected to enhance the development and public perception of women's basketball and is seen as a step towards achieving greater equity between the men's and women's championships.
The NCAA has also explored the possibility of combining the Men's and Women's Final Fours, with both committees voting unanimously that if they were to be held in the same city, the earliest it could happen would be in 2027. This decision considers the existing commitments of host cities and aims to boost the student-athlete experience and fan and stakeholder engagement. The awarding of sites for the 2027-2031 Men's and Women's Final Fours is scheduled to be announced in the fall of 2022.
In addition to these initiatives, the NCAA has introduced a new official game ball, the Evo NXT, for both the men's and women's basketball championships. The ball features a Micro-Touch cover for improved grip and moisture management, as well as a super soft core for exceptional control and a softer feel. The design also includes extended-range technology, optimizing the ball's weight and internal construction for better long-range shooting.
Furthermore, the NCAA has demonstrated its commitment to gender equity by adding women's wrestling as its 91st championship sport. This decision opens up new athletics opportunities for female athletes and empowers women in sports. The first NCAA women's wrestling championship is projected to take place in the winter of 2026, joining other sports that have earned championship status through the Emerging Sports for Women program, such as rowing, ice hockey, water polo, bowling, and beach volleyball.
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NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship
The NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship, also known as Women's March Madness, is a single-elimination tournament held annually in spring across the United States. The tournament features 68 women's college basketball teams from Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to determine the national championship.
The tournament was first held in 1982, the same year as the AIAW women's basketball tournament, which was organised by the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW). The AIAW tournament featured defending AIAW champion Louisiana Tech, but most of the top teams chose to participate in the NCAA tournament instead. The championship initially consisted of 32 teams, increasing to 36, 40, and 48 teams over the following years. From 1994 to 2021, 64 teams competed, and in 2022, the tournament expanded to 68 teams, matching the size of the Division I men's tournament.
The NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship has often been overshadowed by the more prominent men's tournament. However, after a gender equality review following the 2021 tournament, the NCAA extended the "March Madness" branding to the women's tournament and expanded it to the current 68-team format. As of 2022, the tournament follows the same format and selection process as the men's tournament, with 32 automatic bids awarded to the champions of the Division I conferences and 36 "at-large bids" extended by the NCAA Selection Committee. The national semi-finals, known as the Women's Final Four, are traditionally held on the same weekend as the men's Final Four but in a different city.
The UConn Huskies hold the record for the most NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championships, with 12 national titles, including four consecutive championships from 2013 to 2016.
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Marketing and branding efforts for DI Women's Basketball
Marketing and branding are essential to the success of any sports team or league, and DI Women's Basketball is no exception. In recent years, there has been a significant push to enhance the marketing and branding efforts for DI Women's Basketball, with the ultimate goal of achieving greater equity between the women's and men's championships.
One of the most notable initiatives in this regard has been the adoption of the March Madness brand for the DI Women's Basketball Championship. Beginning with the 2022 tournament, the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship embraced the March Madness branding, which is well-known for its association with the Men's Basketball Championship. This decision was made based on recommendations from a comprehensive external review of gender equity issues in connection with NCAA championships. The addition of the March Madness trademark is expected to enhance the development and public perception of the women's game, with the oversight committee committed to addressing other recommendations to improve gender equity.
ESPN, which holds the broadcasting rights for the DI Women's Basketball Championship, has played a pivotal role in promoting the tournament. For the 2025 tournament, ESPN launched a marketing campaign celebrating the unforgettable moments across the 68-team tournament. The campaign featured Grammy Award-winning rapper Doechii's unreleased track, "Mop it Up," as well as the Morehouse College House of Funk Marching Band and Sasha Cheek, a former drum major at Delaware State University. ESPN's VP of Marketing, Live Sports, and Audience Expansion, Rachel Epstein, described the campaign as capturing "the essence of March Madness with high-voltage energy and unforgettable, dynamic athletes."
In addition to the efforts of ESPN, the basketball community itself has recognized the importance of marketing and branding. "The Basketballist Podcast," for example, offers valuable insights and tips for basketball organizations looking to enhance their marketing and sales efforts. The podcast discusses strategies such as digital marketing, sponsorship, and understanding target audiences to increase engagement and following for basketball teams.
Overall, the marketing and branding efforts for DI Women's Basketball are focused on raising the profile of the sport, attracting new audiences, and ultimately achieving greater equity with the men's game. With initiatives like the March Madness branding and creative campaigns by broadcasters like ESPN, the DI Women's Basketball Championship is gaining well-deserved recognition and visibility.
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ESPN's coverage of the 2022 Division I Women's Basketball Championship
ESPN provided exclusive coverage of the 2022 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship, with the most expansive production in its history for the NCAA Women's Final Four. The tournament began on March 16, 2022, and concluded with the championship game on April 3, where the South Carolina Gamecocks defeated the UConn Huskies 64-49 to win their second NCAA title. ESPN offered a full MegaCast presentation across ESPN platforms for both the semifinals and championship game, with all games airing on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews, or ABC.
The MegaCast presentation included The Bird & Taurasi Show Presented by AT&T 5G (BTS), featuring women's basketball legends Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi, who provided commentary and friendly banter from the Target Center. The show was similar in format to ESPN's Monday Night Football with Payton and Eli. ESPN also offered Beyond the Rim and On the Rail on ESPN+, providing aerial camera views, an enhanced statistical feed, and tracking game action from end to end, respectively.
Studio coverage from the Target Center was hosted by Elle Duncan, alongside analysts Rebecca Lobo, Carolyn Peck, and Nikki Fargas. SportsCenter provided live updates and additional coverage from Minneapolis, featuring analyst Monica McNutt. The main ESPN telecast was presented by Capital One and featured play-by-play commentator Ryan Ruocco, analyst Rebecca Lobo, and reporter Holly Rowe.
SEC Network provided additional coverage of South Carolina's second straight trip to the Women's Final Four, with host Alyssa Lang and analyst Steffi Sorensen sharing insights on The Paul Finebaum Show and SEC Now. ACC Network also provided studio coverage from Minneapolis, with a special preview of the Louisville/South Carolina matchup hosted by Kelsey Riggs and featuring analysts Kelly Gramlich, Chelsea Gray, and Muffet McGraw.
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Frequently asked questions
March Madness is a brand that will be used for the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship.
The March Madness brand was introduced in 2022.
The brand was introduced to address gender equity issues in the way the Division I men's and women's basketball championships are conducted.
The brand recognition that March Madness carries will broaden marketing opportunities and elevate the women's basketball championship.
