SAN DIEGO – Abby Prohaska was one of 15 female members of the Division I Basketball Student-Athlete Engagement Group invited on-site for Women's Final Four in Cleveland for a multiday, behind-the-scenes NCAA tournament experience.
Throughout the week in Cleveland, women's engagement group members were provided with various professional development opportunities while gaining an inside perspective on the preparation and execution of the Women's Final Four. Activities included several panel discussions featuring prominent sports professionals and leaders, a Q&A with the 2024 Women's Basketball Hall of Fame inductees, a meet and greet with NCAA President Charlie Baker and the opportunity to network with Division I Women's Basketball Committee members.
"The overall experience was so eye opening and empowering to be a part of," Prohaska explained. "It is important that the narrative and coverage of all women's sports continues to grow."
Engagement group members also had the opportunity to take a behind-the-scenes tour of Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, as well as attend both semifinal games and the national championship game.
The final day of programming included a financial education panel featuring Women's Final Four legend Candace Parker, who led Tennessee to two consecutive NCAA tournament titles in 2007 and 2008 while earning Most Outstanding Player in both Final Fours.
"There is so much growth happening in women's sports and having the opportunity to meet the legends of the game was incredible," Prohaska said. "Attending this event has encouraged me to be a catalyst for change."
Prohaska (Liberty Township, Ohio) was selected to the All-Mountain West team this season. She has earned a degree in visual communication at Notre Dame, a master's in liberal arts and sciences at SDSU and is currently working towards her second master's (education and counseling). Prohaska plans to continue to play professionally and then pursue a career in coaching.
Established in 2020, the Division I Women's Basketball Student-Athlete Engagement Group was formed with a goal of amplifying student-athlete voices in basketball on key initiatives, legislation and issues. The women's engagement group was the first of its kind to be established at the NCAA, with the Division I Men's Basketball Student-Athlete Engagement Group following in 2023. Both engagement groups are made up of one student-athlete representative from each Division I conference, and the groups have a direct connection to the Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.