With controversies surrounding tournament, IU women’s basketball team set to take court

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Indiana University women’s basketball team is ready to take the court in the NCAA tournament, despite the controversy surrounding the difference between workout facilities for the men’s and women’s tournament. 

The number 4-seeded Hoosiers are ready to play 13-seeded Virginia Commonwealth University at 2 p.m. Monday.

The Hoosiers posted a video to Twitter narrated by former Hoosier Brenna Wise, whose season was cut short by the pandemic last year. Two things are clear in the video, the love for the game and each other.

They also posted pictures of working out in San Antonio. This comes after outrage erupted last week at the comparison of weight-training facilities at both the men’s and women’s tournaments.

Since the controversy, the NCAA expanded facilities and added heavier weights, squat racks, benches, resistance bands and exercise balls. Plus, there are also areas alongside the nine practice courts with exercise bikes, rowing machines, treadmills and yoga mats.

Now, there’s another difference in the men’s and women’s tournament that is making headlines, COVID-19 testing. The Associated Press says coaches and players are unhappy at the growing list of inequities. The NCAA has run more than 8,000 tests through Saturday with only one confirmed positive at the women’s tournament using daily antigen testing. The men are using daily PCR tests, which are considered more accurate.

The Hoosiers have been in Texas since last week to get tested for COVID-19, quarantine and to practice.