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Geno Auriemma and Kim Mulkey Condemn NCAA's Two-Host Regional Format

As the NCAA women's basketball tournament enters the Elite Eight, criticism intensifies over the logistical and accessibility challenges posed by the two-host regional system.

  • UConn coach Geno Auriemma criticized the two-host regional format, calling it detrimental to the game and highlighting its logistical burdens on teams and players.
  • LSU coach Kim Mulkey echoed Auriemma's concerns, emphasizing how the system limits fan accessibility and impacts program development.
  • The two-host regional system, introduced in 2023, consolidates four regional sites into two, with this year's games in Spokane, Washington, and Birmingham, Alabama.
  • Critics argue the compressed schedule, early practice times, and cross-country travel to the Final Four in Tampa strain players and reduce preparation time compared to the men's tournament format.
  • Despite widespread criticism, the NCAA has committed to this system through 2028, citing goals of boosting attendance and streamlining operations.
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