Women's Weight Room Gets An Upgrade After Students Drop The Ball On Sexism In Athletics

San Antonio, United States: The issue of women's weight room sexism at a basketball practice space has reportedly been resolved with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) stepping up to upgrade the equipment after players called out the disparities in workout facilities for males and females.

Over the last week, student basketball players called notice to the differential treatment given to men's tournament workout room and that for women. As visible in pictures, the women's weight room was sparsely provided for, while the men's room boasted of well-supplied equipment.

See pictures: 

I’m saddened, frustrated, and disappointed. This is a slap in the face for female athletes across the country. Another upsetting reminder that the resources and support provided throughout athletics IS dependent on gender.

— Malorie Henderlong (@14malorie) March 18, 2021

Basketball champ Sedona Prince had also partaken in the outrage, saying in a TikTok video, "I got something to show y’all. So, for the NCAA March Madness, the biggest tournament in college basketball for women, this is our weight room."

NCAA, the athletics association backing student-athletes in the US with tournaments and sporting benefits, issued a statement, quoting Dan Gavitt, NCAA Senior Vice President, saying, "When we fall short on these expectations, it's on me. I apologise to women's basketball student-athletes, coaches, and the women's basketball committee for dropping the ball on the weight rooms in San Antonio."

Women's Weight Room Sexism Prompts Outrage And A Renovation

As per latest reports, the NCAA amid statements and further social media outrage rushed to renovate the women's weight room in San Antonio. Better weights, equipment like benches, bikes and a rowing machine are now available for women basketball players.

A report by College Game Day shows around the new weight room:

.@sportsiren walks us through the upgraded weight room and practice setup San Antonio. #ncaaW pic.twitter.com/UOmsyHVpGM

— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) March 20, 2021

However the issue of sexism in athletics doesn't seem to have ended with a room upgrade. Basketball player and South Carolina team coach Dawn Staley lashed out at the NCAA for disparities between male and female players that extend beyond workout equipment and into food quality and gifts. On Friday, ahead of the NCAA March Madness basketball tournament, she

#WHATMATTERS pic.twitter.com/QTQzCwbnZT

#WHATMATTERS pic.twitter.com/QTQzCwbnZT

— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) March 20, 2021