Kamala Harris Misstates NCAA Women's Basketball Bracket History

During an interview with Spectrum News, Vice President Kamala Harris incorrectly stated that the NCAA Women's basketball tournament had not been "allowed" to have brackets until 2022, attributing the rise in public interest in women's college basketball to this recent change. However, historical records show that the NCAA Women's Tournament, which began in 1982, had teams seeded and placed into a bracket from its inception. The erroneous claim has been met with criticism and prompted discussions about Harris' knowledge of women's college sports history.

The Vice President's comments have sparked a reaction on social media, with users highlighting the discrepancy between her statement and the factual history of the women's tournament. It is noted that the "March Madness" branding was extended to the women's tournament in 2022, which may have led to confusion. Harris and her husband, Douglas Emhoff, had previously filled out brackets for the women's tournament in 2021, which were shared publicly online. Despite the error, Harris has continued to emphasize the importance of women's sports and the need for fair competition and coverage.