- WNBA superstar
Candace Parker thinks moreMarch Madness fans should engage with the women's tourney. - She partnered with Degree to start a $100,000
bracket challenge for this year's women's tournament.
Candace Parker wants more eyes on the women's game.
This March Madness, the WNBA superstar and two-time NCAA champion is teaming up with Degree to help bring more attention to the women's
"We really want to level the playing field and create more opportunities," Parker told Insider. "And through this Bracket Gap Challenge, we're able to do that."
"Something as little and simple as filling out a women's bracket will bring about more attention, more visibility, and more opportunities for these deserving women," she added.
Historically, far fewer fans fill out women's NCAA tournament brackets than on the men's side. A study of the 2021 NCAA basketball tournaments conducted by Edelman Data & Intelligence revealed that only 12% of Americans familiar with the concept of March Madness filled out brackets for the women's tournament.
With the promise of $25,000 for the winner and a $75,000 donation to the program of their choice, the Bracket Gap Challenge aims to raise that number. In doing so, Parker and Degree hope to promote engagement with the tournament, grow viewership of the women's games, and increase promotional efforts and funding for many women's tournaments to come.
And the benefits of a healthy, well-supported women's college basketball tournament reach far beyond the hardwood, Parker told Insider.
"Not only are you creating the hype around [the tournament], but you're creating opportunity," Parker said. "The opportunity that women and young girls have in
"So I think it's just amazing that Degree is creating so many more opportunities for women because of this visibility, which will then allow
Fans can fill out a women's March Madness bracket at BracketGapChallenge.com beginning March 13 — or Selection Sunday — after the tournament schedule is released to the public. Submissions will close just before the start of tournament competition on Friday, March 18.
Check out Degree's promotional video for the Bracket Gap Challenge — starring Parker — below: