Shock and disappointment were two of the prevailing emotions women's college basketball stars remember feeling as the NCAA's weight room scandal unfolded.
Whether they were watching from home or discovering the slight in-person at the tournament, players were dismayed to see the blatant disparities between resources offered at the men's and women's venues during last year's March Madness.
While athletes at the men's tournament had access to a sparkling weight room filled with rows of top-notch machinery, those at the women's tournament were expected to make due with a pile of yoga mats and a basic rack of dumbbells.
A year later, seven of the most prominent stars in women's college basketball reflected on the experience and told Insider about how the introduction of Name, Image, and Likeness rights (NIL) has helped to level the playing field. All seven have teamed up with restaurant chain Wingstop, whose aim is to "give wings" to female players and help the women's game receive the recognition and financial backing it's long lacked.
From Player of the Year candidate and projected WNBA lottery pick NaLyssa Smith to reigning national champion Lexie Hull and NCAA single-game scoring record holder Ayoka Lee, here are the seven stars' thoughts on the weight room scandal and importance of brand investment in women's hoops: