Alverno College, located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, spent $87,593 on its women’s basketball teams in 2024, according to the U.S. Department of Education. This total is $443,040 less than the statewide average of $530,633.
Women’s basketball represented 14.5% of Alverno’s total sports team spending in 2024.
Alverno College’s investment in its athletic programs has climbed by 22.1% since 2021.
As one of the nation’s most popular college sports, basketball draws significant fan engagement and broadcast viewership, placing it alongside football in terms of national attention. Events such as March Madness consistently attract millions of spectators every year.
The landscape of college sports compensation shifted after a federal settlement authorized direct revenue sharing with athletes for the first time. This agreement includes a $2.8 billion payout over a decade to cover back damages for athletes from 2016 onward.
Athletes also secured the ability to earn income from their names, images and likenesses in 2022 following rule changes and state legislation.
In fiscal year 2024, the NCAA earned about $900 million in revenue from March Madness and the Division I men’s basketball tournament media rights, making basketball the group’s leading revenue generator.
| Year | Basketball team’s expenditures | % from grand total sport team expenditures |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $74,208 | 15% |
| 2022 | $90,367 | 13.8% |
| 2023 | $94,666 | 13.6% |
| 2024 | $87,593 | 14.5% |
