The NCAA Board of Governors this week approved funding to support two major initiatives: enhancing the Division I basketball performance fund and establishing two new women's championships.
The board approved the funding to create three additional units in both the Division I Men's and Women's Basketball Performance Funds to reward performance in the semifinals and finals. If adopted by Division I members at the 2026 NCAA Convention, each team participating in a championship game would receive one additional unit, and the national champions would receive the final unit. Under the current unit structure in both men's and women's basketball, conference offices receive units for each game in which one of their member schools participates, up until the Final Four. The Division I Board of Directors introduced the proposal this week.
The Board of Governors also approved Association-wide budget allocations to support National Collegiate Championships and sport committees in stunt and acrobatics and tumbling. In May, the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics recommended that all three divisions sponsor legislation to add championships in both sports, with the first championships scheduled for 2027. Both sports met the minimum sponsorship and participation thresholds required to move forward. Member schools are expected to vote on the proposals at the 2026 Convention.
"The Board of Governors is proud to support the growth of women's sports and increased championship access across all three divisions," said Linda A. Livingstone, chair of the board and president at Baylor. "We are responding to the needs of our membership, elevating emerging sports and better aligning incentives in our marquee championships."
