The NCAA women’s basketball tournament experienced a discrepancy in the distance of the 3-point line at Moda Center during four games, which went unnoticed until the Elite Eight matchup between Texas and North Carolina State. The coaches decided to play the game with the mismatched 3-point lines rather than delay it, with N.C. State ultimately winning 76-66. After the game, it was announced that all lines would be measured for accuracy ahead of the following day’s game between Southern California and UConn. The NCAA’s vendor, Connor Sports, took responsibility for the error and apologized, promising to make the necessary corrections.
The court issue added to a series of distractions during the women’s tournament, which included a referee being pulled out of a game at halftime, Utah facing racist harassment, and controversies surrounding players’ appearances and remarks from coaches. The discrepancy in the 3-point line distance at Moda Center was another unexpected surprise in an already eventful tournament. Despite the mistake, the game proceeded as scheduled to avoid delays and maintain the game’s broadcast on ABC. Both coaching staffs were made aware of the issue during pregame warmups and opted to continue as planned.
The discrepancy in the 3-point line distance affected the shooting performance of the teams during the games played on the mismatched court. Teams shooting on the end with the closer 3-point arc had a lower shooting percentage compared to the end with the correct arc. While some coaches speculated on whether the issue had a direct impact on the game’s outcome, most players were unaware of the discrepancy. N.C. State’s Aziaha James, in particular, had a standout performance with a career-high seven 3-pointers, despite the court issue.
Following the Elite Eight matchup between Texas and North Carolina State, the NCAA promised to correct the court markings for the upcoming games to ensure the accuracy of all lines. Despite the unexpected nature of the court issue, both teams chose to play the game as scheduled and now turn their focus to the Final Four. The tournament continued to showcase exceptional play from the teams participating, with the court issue being a minor setback in an overall successful event. Through various challenges and distractions, the NCAA women’s basketball tournament continued to captivate viewers and showcase the talent of the players involved.
