♪♪ >> WELCOME TO "AT ISSUE," I'M H. WAYNE WILSON, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US ON THE PROGRAM.

IT WAS JUNE 23RD OF 1972 PRESIDENT NIXON SIGNED WHAT WAS KNOWN AS ANDSTILL KNOWN AS TITLE IX, AND EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST AND 50 YEARS AGO.

PROHIBITS SEX DISCRIMINATION FOR ANY ACTIVITY THAT IS FUNDED BY FEDERAL DOLLARS.

NOW THAT INCLUDED ACADEMICS, A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT IT ALSO INCLUDED ATHLETICS AND WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT THE ATHLETIC PORTION OF TITLE IX ON THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY WITH LEANNA BORDNER.

ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY SENIOR WOMAN ADMINISTRATOR.

LEANNA, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> ALSO IS KATE POPOVEC.

NEW BRADLEY HEAD WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH, ABOUT FOUR MONTHS INTO THE JOB?

>> YEP, ABOUT FOUR MONTHS IN.

THANK YOU, GUYS, SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> BACKGROUND BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT THE HISTORY OF TITLE IX AND WHAT STILL NEEDS TO HAPPEN WITH TITLE IX, A LITTLE BIT OF YOUR CAREER.

>> YES, SO, I GREW UP IN A VERY SMALL TOWN IN MICHIGAN, I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL IN 1973, A YEAR AFTER THE SIGNING OF TITLE IX, AND HAD VERY FEW OPPORTUNITIES IN HIGH SCHOOL BUT WENT TO MICHIGAN STATE, COMPETED IN THREE SPORTS, GRADUATED IN FOUR YEARS, GRADUATED WITH UNDERGRAD DEGREE IN 1977, AND WENT ON TO A 16-YEAR CAREER AS AN ASSISTANT COLLEGE BASKETBALL COACH AT SEVERAL DIVISION I SCHOOLS, A DIVISION II SCHOOL, WON A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, AND THEN AS MY FRIENDS SAY, I WENT TO THE DARK SIDE.

I BECAME AN ADMINISTRATOR, AND I'VE BEEN AN ADMINISTRATOR AT THE COLLEGIATE LEVEL AT ILLINOIS STATE FOR 29 YEARS AND A VARIETY OF ROLES, STARTED AT AN ENTRY LEVEL POSITION AT ILLINOIS STATE AND HAVE WORKED MY WAY UP TO THE SENIOR WOMAN ADMINISTRATOR ROLE WHERE I OVERSEE 11 SPORTS, MEN'S AND WOMEN'S, DO A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS, BOTH ON OUR CAMPUS AND OUR COMMUNITY AND THE CONFERENCE.

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT A FEW THINGS YOU MENTIONED BUT KATE'S CAREER, A LITTLE BIT SHORTER.

>> A LITTLE BIT SHORTER AND A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL IN 2008, SO ALL I KNOW IS THE TITLE IX ERA.

I WAS A FULL SCHOLARSHIP ATHLETE AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, MOST RECENTLY WAS THE ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH, THERE FOR FIVE SEASONS AS ASSISTANT, BOUNCED AROUND BEFORE THAT, AT LASALLE UNIVERSITY, NORTHWESTERN, COLGATE UNIVERSITY, AND NOW HERE IN PEORIA AT BRADLEY.

A DIFFERENT CAREER PATH BUT FORTUNATE FOR.

>> WELCOME TO PEORIA.

>> THANK YOU.

>> LEANNA, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT YOUR EARLY CAREER.

WAS THERE SOMETHING KNOWN AS GIRLS' ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION BACK THEN?

>> THERE WAS, AND FOR MANY WOMEN IN THE 1960S, 1970S, AND 1950S, G.A.A.

WAS THE ONLY OPPORTUNITY AND IN COLLEGE YOU HAD PLAY DAYS pWHERE 3 OR 4 SCHOOLS MAY BRING THEIR BASKETBALL TEAM AND YOU WOULD PLAY AND COMPETE AGAINST EACH OTHER AND THEN HAVE PUNCH AND COOKIES.

INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS BACK IN THE DAY LOOKED VERY, VERY DIFFERENT.

>> KATE, BEFORE WE TAPED THE PROGRAM YOU SAID SOMETHING THAT REALLY INTRIGUED ME, THAT THERE WAS A TIME WHEN WOMEN WERE RECRUITING WOMEN TO PLAY BASKETBALL OR WHATEVER SPORT IT WAS, THAT THEY WOULD TALK TO THE DAD.

THAT'S NOT THE CASE SO MUCH ANYMORE.

>> NO, I THINK ONE OF THE MOST POSITIVE CHANGES THAT I'VE SEEN, PROBABLY IN THE PAST 5 TO 7 YEARS, IS WHEN I RECRUIT YOUNG WOMEN TO COME PLAY BASKETBALL AT BRADLEY OR OTHER INSTITUTIONS I'VE BEEN AT, I'M MORE OFTEN TALKING TO MOMS WHO HAVE PLAYED BASKETBALL AT A HIGH LEVEL, WHETHER IT BE COLLEGIATE, HIGH SCHOOL, TALKING TO MORE COACHES WHAT ARE WOMEN, THAT'S A SEPARATE ISSUE, YOUTH COACHING, WOMEN AND YOUTH COACHING BUT THE FACT I GET TO TALK TO MOMS WHO HAD HIGH LEVEL ATHLETIC EXPERIENCES IN THE FORMATIVE PART OF THEIR DAUGHTER'S EXPERIENCE IS REALLY COOL.

I ENJOY THAT A LOT.

>> IT MAKES IT EASIER TO RECRUIT?

>> I THINK RECRUITING IS RECRUITING.

I DO THINK IT'S NICE BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE -- THEY HAVE EXPERIENCES THAT ARE MUCH MORE RELATEABLE TO WHAT THEIR DAUGHTER IS GOING TO GO THROUGH, VERSUS MEN WHO MAYBE HAVE BEEN COLLEGIATE ATHLETES BUT THE SPORT IS VERY DIFFERENT.

>> THE PATH HAS NOT BEEN EASY.

1972 LEGISLATION WAS PASSED, ACTUALLY THE REGULATIONS WERE NOT EVEN WRITTEN UNTIL 1975.

>> CORRECT.

>> THAT TOOK ANOTHER ACT SIGNED BY PRESIDENT FORD AND IN 1976, 1 YEAR AFTER THE REGULATIONS, NCAA SAID WE ARE SUING.

WE DON'T WANT TITLE IX.

DO YOU REMEMBER THAT TIME?

>> I DO REMEMBER THAT TIME AND I ALSO REMEMBER THAT DURING THAT SAME TIME THERE WERE MANY WOMEN WHO WERE AGAINST SCHOLARSHIPS, YOU KNOW, IT WAS A MIXED BAG, REALLY, HOW THE WOMEN DURING THOSE TIMES ACCEPTED TITLE IX, THOUGHT ABOUT TITLE IX, AND SO THERE WERE STRUGGLES NOT JUST FROM THE NCAA BUT ALSO WITHIN THE LEADERSHIP AT THE TIME OF WOMEN'S ATHLETICS, THE ASSOCIATION OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS FOR WOMEN, SO THERE WAS A LOT OF PULLING AND TUGGING IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.

MEN'S, WOMEN'S, NCAA, AAIW TO REALLY PLAY THIS OUT AND MOVE IT FORWARD AND DO ALL THAT IN A WAY THAT EVERYBODY FELT GOOD ABOUT IT AND SO THERE WERE STRUGGLES AND EVEN WITHIN THE RANKS OF EACH GENDER AND EACH LEADERSHIP GROUP AT THE TIME.

>> IN LOOKING BACK THERE WERE VARIOUS LAWSUITS TRYING TO AMEND OR EVEN RESCIND TITLE IX OR AT LEAST PORTIONS OF TITLE IX.

THE ONE I FOUND MOST INTERESTING WAS BROWN UNIVERSITY.

APPEALS COURT FOUND BROWN IN VIOLATION OF TITLE IX BACK IN 1996.

BROWN'S DEFENSE, BROWN UNIVERSITY'S DEFENSE WAS WOMEN AREN'T AS INTERESTED IN ATHLETICS AS MEN.

HOW DOES THAT STRIKE YOU?

>> IT'S PRETTY DISCRIMINATORY AND PRETTY GENERALIZING.

I THINK WOMEN ARE INTERESTED IN WHAT THEY ARE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO PURSUE.

WHEN YOU DON'T PROVIDE THE WOMEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURSUE CERTAIN THINGS, THEIR INTEREST LEVELS WILL NOT BE AS HIGH BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURSUE THEM.

THE ONE THING WITH THE PASSING OF TITLE IX, WOMEN ARE VERY INTERESTED IN ATHLETICS AND ENJOY BEING AN ATHLETE.

AND FOR AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING TO MAKE SUCH A SWEEPING STATEMENT THAT WOMEN AREN'T AS INTERESTED, THEREFORE WE DON'T NEED TO PROVIDE THEM OPPORTUNITIES IS -- IS PRETTY DISCOURAGING, TO SAY THE LEAST, BUT LUCKILY WE ARE MOVING FORWARD.

>> 1996.

>> NOT THAT LONG AGO.

>> SOME POSITIVES, SOCCER SEEMS TO BE LEADING THE CHANGE, SO TO SPEAK, MOST RECENTLY.

>> YES, YOU KNOW, THE DECISION EQUAL PAY COULD HAVE VERY SWEEPING RESULTS, NOT JUST IN ATHLETICS, BUT YOU KNOW, THERE ARE PAY INEQUITIES IN A LOT OF PROFESSIONS OUTSIDE OF ATHLETICS AS WELL, BUT I THINK THIS REALLY LAYS THE GROUND WORK FOR OTHER WOMEN'S SPORTS TO REALLY ADVANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FEMALES AND SALARIES.

I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS AND KIND OF TIES INTO WHAT KATE JUST SAID BUT THE MANTRA HAS BEEN IF YOU CAN SEE IT, YOU CAN BE IT.

AND SO FOR YOUNG WOMEN TO SEE MORE COACHES AND MORE ADMINISTRATORS AND IN MORE OPPORTUNITIES, C.E.O.s, LEADERSHIP ROLE, IN AND OUT OF ATHLETICS, IN BUSINESS, THEY NEED TO SEE IT TO REALIZE THEY CAN BE IT AND HOPEFULLY THE SALARIES WILL BE THERE.

HOPEFULLY IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE BETTER IN SO MANY FRONTS.

>> LET ME FOLLOW UP ON THAT BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY MORE WOMEN PLAYING AT THE COLLEGE LEVEL AND PRO AND THE WNBA WAS FOUNDED IN 1996, THE SAME YEAR BROWN WAS FOUND IN VIOLATION, BUT IT'S INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT SINCE 1972 TO 2020, THE MOST RECENT NUMBERS I FOUND, HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL PARTICIPATION FOR GIRLS UP MORE THAN 1,000%.

IN COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY LEVEL WOMEN, 600 PLUS PERCENT INCREASE IN PARTICIPATION.

WONDERFUL INCREASES.

AT THE SAME TIME, WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP STAGNANT.

WHY IS THAT?

>> I THINK IT'S STAGNANT FOR SEVERAL REASONS.

A COUPLE IN PARTICULAR.

I THINK WOMEN ARE FINDING IT MORE CHALLENGING TO MAYBE PURSUE SOME OF THE PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN ATHLETICS.

FAMILIES, CHILDREN, A SPOUSE MAYBE WHO HAS A JOB THAT THEY CAN'T LEAVE.

I KNOW, YOU KNOW, THROUGH PROBABLY THE LAST TEN YEARS AS WE'VE PURSUED FEMALES FOR ROLES IN OUR ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT, THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE HAVE HEARD.

IN ADDITION, WHILE THERE HAS BEEN SOME INCREASE IN SALARY, ATTRACTIVE TO MALES AND MAYBE MALES WHO ARE IN, ON THE MEN SIDE OF ATHLETICS, BOTH IN COACHING, ADMINISTRATION, SO I THINK IT'S A COMBINATION OF THOSE TWO THINGS.

I THINK WOMEN ARE SHYING AWAY A LITTLE BIT FROM SOME OF THE OPPORTUNITIES BUT IN ADDITION, THE TALENT POOL, IF YOU WILL, HAS REALLY INCREASED FROM THE MALE SIDE OF THINGS AND WHEN YOU HAVE -- WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE A LOT OF FEMALE LEADERSHIP AT THE TOP MAKING SOME OF THOSE HIRES, I THINK IT'S HARD SOMETIMES.

YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT BE A COMMITTEE OF ONE ADVOCATING FOR MORE AND STRONGER FEMALE REPRESENTATION IN TALENT POOLS.

WE ALL ARE REALLY LOOKING AT BECOMING MORE DIVERSE AS WELL AND THOSE ARE ALL PRIORITIES FOR ALL OF OUR ATHLETIC DEPARTMENTS.

DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S BRADLEY, A PRIVATE, OR ILLINOIS STATE, A PUBLIC.

IT'S WHAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S PART OF OUR MISSION, IT'S PART OF OUR CORE VALUES, AND YOU -- WE HAVE ALL BECOME EVEN MORE COMMITTED THAN WE HAVE BEEN TO TURN OVER EVERY ROCK, ESPECIALLY ON THE FEMALE SIDE.

WE, FOR ALL OF OUR POSITIONS, REALLY FOCUS ON ATTRACTING FEMALE CANDIDATES SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN CONTINUE TO GET THOSE NUMBERS UP.

>> I THINK ALSO JUST TOUCHING FROM A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE, HEAD WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH, I'M 32 YEARS OLD.

MY FIANCE' IS ON MY STAFF AND HE WORKS FOR ME, TO HAVE AN INSTITUTION FIRST AND FOREMOST THAT ADVOCATED FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY AND WAS SUPPORTIVE OF THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT.

I THINK IT'S BECOMING MORE COMMON ACROSS WOMEN'S BASKETBALL, SEEING IT IN WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL THAT OFTEN TIMES COUPLES ARE ON THE SIDELINES TOGETHER, BUT I THINK FOR ME IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT EARLY IN MY CAREER, I WAS TOLD BY WOMEN THAT I COULD NOT HAVE A STRONG CAREER AND HAVE A FAMILY AT THE SAME TIME, WHICH WAS VERY DISCOURAGING, AND THAT'S A NARRATIVE I WANT TO PUSH AGAINST BECAUSE YOU CAN.

IT'S JUST NOT GOING TO LOOK LIKE MAYBE WHAT YOU THOUGHT IT WOULD, BUT YOU CAN HAVE IT ALL.

I THINK IT'S ALL ABOUT FINDING SUPPORTIVE PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE AND FOR ME TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AS AN EXAMPLE TO MY TEAM IN MY STAGE OF LIFE AS A YOUNG WOMAN WHO IS ABOUT TO GET MARRIED, WHO HOPEFULLY WILL START A FAMILY THAT YOU CAN DO IT ALL.

THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS WORK-LIFE BLEND AND WHAT YOU WANT IT TO LOOK LIKE AND I WANT TO SERVE AS AN EXAMPLE TO THE PEOPLE THAT I COACH AND THE YOUNG WOMEN AROUND ME THAT YOU CAN BECOME WHO YOU WANT TO BECOME, YOU CAN FIND A PARTNER THAT WILL SUPPORT THAT DREAM, THAT AMBITION, AND THAT YOU CAN HAVE ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU WANT IN YOUR LIFE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO SACRIFICE ONE BUT YOU DO HAVE TO REFRAME YOUR MINDSET OF WHAT IT MIGHT LOOK LIKE AND FOR ME TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT WHILE ALSO HAVING AN ADMINISTRATION THAT'S TREMENDOUSLY SUPPORTIVE OF THAT VISION AND UNDERSTANDS THAT IN ORDER TO RUN THE PROGRAM THE WAY THAT I ENVISION RUNNING IT, THEY NEED TO PROVIDE ME ADEQUATE SUPPORT AND THEY DID THAT.

IT WAS REALLY INSPIRING AND I HOPE THAT THAT BECOMES MORE COMMON AS WE MOVE FORWARD, MAYBE IT DOES NOT NEED TO BE THAT YOUR SPOUSE WORKS FOR YOU OR WORKS WITH YOU, BUT THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE ADMINISTRATION'S THAT IF THEY WANT YOU THERE, THEY ARE WILLING TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN IN ORDER TO SUPPORT WHAT YOUR GOALS ARE AS WELL WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE INSTITUTION.

I WAS REALLY LUCKY TO FIND THAT.

>> AND WE HAVE HAD CHILDREN GROW UP IN OUR ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT AND I THINK MOST INSTITUTIONS NOW ARE AT THE POINT WHERE THEY ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILDREN TO GROW UP IN YOUR GYM, AROUND YOUR STUDENT ATHLETES, BECAUSE THEY ARE GREAT ROLE MODELS.

THEY ARE GOING TO BE BIG SISTERS TO YOUR CHILDREN AND I THINK MORE AND MORE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENTS TO YOUR POINT, KATE, ARE EMBRACING, ALLOWING FAMILIES TO TRAVEL, COME TO PRACTICE, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE, TO HELP MAKE THAT EASIER AND EASIER CHOICE FOR, ESPECIALLY WOMEN TODAY WHO DO WANT TO HAVE A FAMILY.

>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE AUDIENCE UNDERSTANDS THAT WHAT TITLE IX MEANS TO ATHLETICS FOR WOMEN.

THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED EQUAL INEFFECT, THE OVERALL EFFECTS OF ANY DIFFERENCES IS NEGLIGIBLE.

SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY WITH FOOTBALL, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T HAVE THIS AND THIS BEING EXACTLY EQUAL.

AS AN EXAMPLE, YOU CAN OFFER MORE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THE WOMEN'S PROGRAM THAN BRIAN CAN FOR THE MEN'S PROGRAM.

>> WE ARE HAPPY ABOUT IT.

I THINK ANY WAYS THAT WE CAN FIND WAYS TO BUILD OUR PROGRAMS AND BE SUCCESSFUL, WE TAKE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.

I WILL BE AT FULL ROSTER CAPACITY OVER THE NEXT FEW SEASONS FOR SURE.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT, I DON'T -- IT'S NOT EVEN A CONVERSATION I'VE EVER HAD WITH BRIAN OR ANYONE IN THE DEPARTMENT.

WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT IT AND IT IS -- IT IS GREAT AND I THINK BRADLEY IN TERMS OF SCHOLARSHIP EQUITY, WE ACTUALLY HAVE SLIGHTLY MORE SCHOLARSHIPS ON THE WOMEN SIDE FOR THE ATHLETES AND IT'S NEGLIGIBLE DIFFERENCE BUT THE FACT THAT WE ARE, I'M WORKING AT AN INSTITUTION WHERE THERE IS THAT STRONG EQUITY AND STRONG TO FOCUS WAS IMPORTANT FR ME LOOKING AT JOB OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL.

>> SUCCESS CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE AND LET'S JUST LOOK AT PAT SUMMIT.

THE LONG-TIME TENNESSEE WOMEN'S HEAD BASKETBALL COACH.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY NCAA TITLES SHE WON.

>> EIGHT.

>> QUITE A FEW.

BUT SUCCESS CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN ELEVATING -- IN BRINGING THE PEOPLE OF TENNESSEE SAYING I'M PAYING ATTENTION TO WOMEN'S BASKETBALL, WHEN YOU HAVE SUCCESS LIKE THAT.

HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT TO HAVE A CONNECTICUT OR A TENNESSEE TO IMPROVING THE ELEVATION OF WOMEN'S SPORTS IN THE GENERAL POPULATION?

>> IT'S HUGE, AND IT'S VERY MUCH LIKE YOU LOOK AT WISCONSIN VOLLEYBALL WINNING THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, BEING ON THE STAGE SEVERAL YEARS.

THEY HAVE BUILT THAT PROGRAM BRICK BY BRICK.

BUT, IT TAKES SOMEBODY IN THE COMMUNITY, IN THE MEDIA, TO REALLY BECOME THE CHAMPION FOR THOSE PROGRAMS, AND CONTINUE TO LET PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT AND PROMOTE THEIR SUCCESS.

CLEARLY PAT SUMMIT WAS MORE THAN JUST A COACH.

SHE WAS A COMMUNITY LEADER, SHE WAS RESPECTED NOT JUST IN KNOXVILLE BUT STATEWIDE, NATIONWIDE WITH ALL HER SUCCESS, AND BACK WHEN PAT COACHED PEOPLE EMBRACED WHAT SHE STOOD FOR, HER DISCIPLINE, HER DISCIPLINE, STRONG LOVE FOR HER PLAYERS, HER STUDENT ATHLETES' ACADEMIC SUCCESS, SHE WAS A CHAMPION FOR THEM BOTH ON AND OFF THE COURT AND HAD HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR THEM AND THE PEOPLE IN KNOXVILLE EMBRACED IT BUT IT TOOK THE PEOPLE IN KNOXVILLE TO PROMOTE IT AND GET BUY-IN, MARKET IT, PROMOTE IT, MAKE IT A POSITIVE AND WE NEED MORE OF THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY EXAMPLES OF SUCCESSFUL WOMEN'S PROGRAMS BUT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT AND I GO BACK TO, IF YOU CAN SEE IT YOU CAN BE IT.

>> AND LET ME HAVE YOU FOLLOW UP ON THAT, KATE.

MEDIA, THE IMPORTANCE OF MEDIA.

I THINK AT LEAST IN SOME MEDIA OUTLETS THERE MIGHT BE THE TENDENCY TO, WELL, THE MEN'S TEAM DID THIS, AND THEN THE WOMEN'S -- BY THE WAY, THE WOMEN ALSO WON.

HOW -- HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT CHANGING THAT SO THE PUBLIC SEES IT AND THEN THEY CAN HELP PROMOTE IT?

>> WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR OUR PRODUCT.

WE HAVE TO FIGHT FOR THE GAME.

I THINK ALL THE UCONNS OF THE WORLD AND STANFORDS OF THE WORLD AND TENNESSEES OF THE WORLD WERE SO WONDERFUL FOR WOMEN'S BASKETBALL, PEOPLE STARTED TO USE THAT AGAINST US IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS, OH, YOU CAN FILL IN THE BRACKET RIGHT AWAY, OK, GREAT, THE MOST WINNING COACH IN NCAA HISTORY AT THE TIME WAS PAT SUMMIT, SHE STILL WAS NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

WE ARE NOT ASKING TO BE THE MEN'S SPORT.

WE WANT TO BE RESPECTED IN OUR OWN RIGHT AS OUR OWN PRODUCT AND THE PARITY HAS CONTINUED TO GROW, WOMEN'S BASKETBALL IS WHAT I KNOW, BUT YOU HAVE TO COVER IT AND IN THE CONSUMER POOL THERE'S NOT A LIMITED AMOUNT OF WHAT YOU CAN VIEW AND CONSUME.

THEY VIEW AND CONSUME WHAT IS PRESENTED TO THEM AND THAT IS THE NEXT BIG STEPS.

WE HAVE GOTTEN THE VIEWERSHIP UP, WE HAVE PUT OUR PRODUCT ON TELEVISION, THE SOFTBALL WORLD SERIES A GREAT EXAMPLE.

MORE FOR SOFTBALL THAN THERE WAS FOR THE BASEBALL WORLD SERIES.

IF YOU PUT THE PRODUCT ON TV PEOPLE WILL WATCH IT.

NOW IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO GROW IT YOU HAVE TO COVER IT AND YOU HAVE TO REPRESENT IT AND YOU KNOW, I WORKED FOR A HEAD COACH THAT HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR 30 YEARS AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, ON THE PHONE WITH NEWSPAPERS AT MIDNIGHT FIGHTING FOR A QUARTER OF THE NEWSPAPER PAGE AND ARTICLE ABOUT A TEAM THAT WAS ABOUT TO WIN A BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP.

THAT'S THE NEXT PHASE WE HAVE TO ADVOCATE FOR FOR SURE.

>> AND WE ARE REALLY LUCK WHICH WOMEN'S SOCCER BECAUSE THE PAY EQUITY, YOU KNOW, THAT CHECKED OFF, SO TO SPEAK, BUT THE CROWDS THEY ARE DRAWING.

SO YOU KNOW, YOU ARE PLAYING IN FRONT OF THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO BECOME PART OF YOUR MARKETING TEAM.

THEY ARE WATCHING THIS FABULOUS SOCCER AND THEY ARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA OR THEIR KIDS ARE, CHILDREN ARE GOING TO THEIR SOCCER GAMES TALKING ABOUT IT, AND WE JUST -- YOU KNOW, WE NEED MORE OF THAT.

ALL THE PEOPLE AT THE WOMEN'S FINAL FOUR THIS YEAR IN MINNEAPOLIS.

WE NEED EVERYBODY TO BECOME MARKETERS AND PROMOTERS AND WORD OF MOUTH AND ENCOURAGERS, TAKE TEAMS TO COLLEGE, YOU KNOW, WOMEN'S BASKETBALL GAMES AND IT NEEDS TO BE A UNITED FRONT IN TERMS OF CONTINUING TO MOVE IT FORWARD AND PUSH THE ENVELOPE.

>> AND MAYBE THE OLYMPIC TEAM, THE U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM IS HELPING.

BECAUSE FOR THE PAST THREE OLYMPICS, THERE HAVE BEEN MORE WOMEN ON THE U.S.

TEAM THAN MEN.

NOT BY 1 OR 2 EITHER.

HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT, BECAUSE OLYMPICS IS, PEOPLE WATCH THE OLYMPICS AND THEN THEY SAY SIMONE BILES, ETC.

>> ALL OF THAT IS A PART OF THAT, AND THE SUCCESS OF THE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL OLYMPIC TEAM, BOY, UNPARALLELED AND CAN THEY CONTINUE, THAT'S EVERYBODY'S QUESTION AND I THINK IT HAS HELPED GROW THE GAME.

IT HAS HELPED ALSO PROVIDE TO SOME PEOPLE SOME LEVEL OF, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE PRETTY GOOD, BOY, THEY CAN SHOOT, TOO BAD IT NEEDS THAT VERIFICATION BUT I THINK HAS HELPED MOVE THE GAME FORWARD WITH THE SUCCESS AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL.

YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY IT WILL PLAY OVER INTO THE WNBA VERY MUCH.

WE NEED MORE TEAMS, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THAT EXPANSION HAPPENS SOON OR LATE, YOU KNOW, I THINK -- I THINK THE MARKET'S OUT THERE BUT CAN THEY DO IT.

SO AGAIN, IT TAKES ALL OF US TO CONTINUE TO PUSH THE ENVELOPE AND THE MESSAGE AND CONTINUE TO GROW SPORTS.

>> ONE OF THE CHALLENGES, ESPECIALLY FOR POWER 5 CONFERENCE TEAMS, OHIO STATE, U.S.C., ETC., TRYING TO MAKE SURE THERE IS A BALANCE IN THE APPROACH TO MALE ATHLETICS VERSUS FEMALE ATHLETICS.

YOU MENTIONED AN EXPERIENCE BEFORE THE TAPING AT FLORIDA STATE, I BELIEVE.

>> THAT WAS LEANNA.

>> YES, WE WERE INTERVIEWING A CANDIDATE SEVERAL YEARS AGO FOR A CROSS COUNTRY PROGRAM AND SHE WAS AN ASSISTANT AT FLORIDA STATE FOR THE THIRD TEAM, THE THIRD CROSS COUNTRY TEAM, THE WOMEN'S SIDE.

EACH OF THE THREE WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY TEAMS HAD DIFFERENT LEVEL OF SPORT AND BASICALLY THEY PROVIDED ABOUT 60 OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN TO BE ON THIS CROSS COUNTRY TEAM.

WHEN I ASKED, YOU KNOW, WHY, BECAUSE THAT WAS VERY CONFUSING, IT WAS A WELL-KNOWN FACT THAT IT WAS TO ALLOW THE FOOTBALL PROGRAM TO HAVE AS MANY YOUNG MEN HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY FOOTBALL AND YOU KNOW, THAT PROBABLY HAPPENS MORE THAN ANY OF US ARE AWARE, NOT AT EVERY POWER 5 SCHOOL BUT AT MANY SCHOOLS THAT PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, HAPPENS, YOU KNOW, MANAGEMENT OR INFLATED ROSTERS, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO SKIN THE CAT THAT SCHOOLS, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT AND UTILIZE TO, IN THEIR MIND, CAPITALIZE ON WHAT THEY FEEL ARE THE PRIORITIES FOR THEIR ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT.

NOT EVERY ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT HAS THE SAME PRIORITIES IN TERMS OF SPORTS.

>> LET ME ASK, KATE, HEAD WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH.

YOU ARE GOING TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE BASKETBALL FLOOR.

BUT YOU HAVE A CHALLENGE IN THAT YOU HAVE TO REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY.

YOU ARE FOUR MONTHS HERE IN PEORIA, THAT'S A CHALLENGE FOR YOU.

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO APPROACH THAT?

>> I THINK JUST IMMERSING MYSELF IN THE COMMUNITY.

I THINK THE ONE THING THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT IS IN ORDER TO COME TO OUR GAMES, PEOPLE HAVE TO KNOW ME, I HAVE TO MAKE MYSELF AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE TO KNOW ME.

THEY ARE NOT GOING TO SEEK OUT WHO I AM ON THEIR OWN, I HAVE TO IMMERSE MYSELF IN THE COMMUNITY, MY TEAM IN THE COMMUNITY, MY STAFF IN THE COMMUNITY AND SELECT A DEPARTMENT THAT WANTED TO PROVIDE ME THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.

ACTUALLY LATER TONIGHT I WILL BE THERE.

SO BE AT A DINNER AND DO THOSE THINGS, BUT I THINK THAT YOU HAVE TO IMMERSE YOURSELF.

I HAVE TO GO SEEK OUT THE OPPORTUNITIES.

>> AND WITH THAT, OUR TIME IS UP.

WE HOPE YOU CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION AT HOME BUT LET ME SAY THANK YOU TO LEANNA BORDNER, WHO IS THE SENIOR WOMAN ADMINISTRATOR AT ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

>> THANK YOU, H. >> AND ALSO KATE POPOVEC, THE NEW BRADLEY HEAD WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH.

>> GO BRAVES.

>> AND GO RED BIRDS.

WE'LL BE BACK NEXT TIME WITH THE FORMER PEORIA COUNTY SHERIFF WITH INSIGHT INTO THE CHALLENGES THAT SHERIFFS STATEWIDE ARE FACING IN ILLINOIS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON "AT ISSUE."

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