Horizon League Advances Women’s and Men’s Basketball Major Moves at Board Meeting
INDIANAPOLIS (November 8, 2024) – During October’s Horizon League Board of Directors meeting in Chicago, voting action and sentiment confirmed the League’s commitment to the advancement of women’s and men’s basketball with the addition of women’s basketball excellence and performance funds and the continuation of similar funds on the men’s side. The women’s performance fund is contingent on a January NCAA vote creating the NCAA Women’s Basketball Unit.
Why it Matters:
In this major move, each of the 11 member institutions reinforced support by continuing the men’s funds and approving the women’s basketball excellence and performance funds which will result in a minimum of $400,000 available in each sport to be earned through the 2026-27 season totaling $800,000. The League’s leaders continue to commit to growing women’s basketball, solidifying men’s basketball and expanding upon the League’s history of innovation.
Major Voices:
Horizon League Board of Directors Chair and Oakland University President Dr. Ora Pescovitz
“The Horizon League has affirmed its support for equity by creating the women’s basketball excellence and performance funds in a manner similar to the support previously provided to support men’s basketball. We are thrilled that both men’s and women’s sports are demonstrating outstanding success and the Board intends to continue to support and promote excellence.”
Horizon League Council Chair and Oakland University Director of Athletics Steve Waterfield
"The Board’s unanimous decision to create the women's basketball excellence and performance funds and continue the same funds for men's basketball underscores the Board's emphasis on basketball success and accelerates the League's upward trajectory in both sports. Having already seen the positive results the funds have promoted in men's basketball, I am excited to see similar results in women's basketball."
League Commissioner Julie Roe Lach
“Due to the tremendous leadership of our Board, commitment to excellence by our leaders on campuses and competitive and co-curricular accomplishments of our student-athletes, the Horizon League will continue to be innovative and forward-thinking which this significant and first-of-its-kind financial initiative defines.”
NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Committee Vice-Chair and Milwaukee Director of Athletics Amanda Braun
“Continuing to advance basketball – women’s and men’s – has been at the forefront of discussions across the Horizon League for many years. The basketball excellence fund is showing results. So much work has been done behind the scenes in women’s basketball nationally and to see our League membership’s leaders commit to the game will be impactful.”
Horizon League Women’s Basketball Coach Peer Group Chair and Milwaukee Women’s Basketball Head Coach Kyle Rechlicz
“Horizon League women’s basketball programs have demonstrated high-level, broad-based success time and time again. Instituting the women’s basketball performance fund will only elevate our League’s national profile and contribute to the major experiences offered. On behalf of the coaches, we are grateful to the Board for formalizing this initiative.”
Dig Deeper:
- The League committed $275,000 to both men’s and women’s basketball in 2022-23 as designated improvement grants resulting in each men’s and women’s program receiving $25,000.
- The League’s current Basketball Excellence Plan was approved to improve the strength of basketball in 2022.
- The Excellence Plan includes strategies around investment, officiating and scheduling, among other pillars.
- Industry leader HD Intelligence continues to partner with the League on non-league scheduling enhancements and regulations.
- Analytics expert Kevin Pauga continues to work on the League’s regular season scheduling to improve travel efficiencies and home/road balance resulting in improved stakeholder experiences.