Battle 4 Atlantis part of bigger spotlight for women’s hoops

PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas — Texas guard Sonya Morris had long noticed the number of big matchups in early season tournaments to stir men’s college basketball and the buzz that came with them. “I think a lot of are saying, ‘Oh wow, there’s actually value in women’s basketball, we should get involved, too,” said Lea Miller-Tooley, the founder and director of the Atlantis tournaments. “I think there are some events starting this year that are understanding that.. There’s no denying the power, strength and publicity that women’s basketball has been getting has never been higher, and we’re proud to be right in there with one of the strongest events in women’s basketball promoting the sport.” That rise in prominence has come less than two years after the glaring inequity issues that emerged in how the bubbled men’s and women’s NCAA Tournaments were handled in 2021, including the allocation of resources to athletes and even the quality of the swag boxes of gifts. by @aaronbeardap https://t.co/s7pd6ukDUk pic.twitter.com/3dEBIkEnbL — AP Top 25 November 19, 2022 Battle 4 Atlantis part of bigger spotlight with early season women's tournaments That’s why Richard Lapchick, director of The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at Central Florida, is encouraged to see more events coming with the backing of broadcast partners and corporate sponsors. And that, as UCLA coach Cori Close said Friday, is how “these tournaments keep the conversation going.” “I think it’s great for women’s basketball because you see it a lot on the men’s side,” Louisville guard Hailey Van Lith said.