March 31--The head of the Division I women's basketball committee said more information is needed about the impact of Indiana's controversial new Religious Freedom Restoration Act before the committee would engage in serious discussion about moving the 2016 Women's Final Four out of Indianapolis.
Dru Hancock, a senior associate commissioner of the Big 12, said in a text message Monday she expects there to be "conversation" about the situation at next week's Final Four in Tampa.
Hancock wrote it would be "highly premature to do anything before we know more."
"The NCAA, Mark Emmert and other major entities have been weighing in all day...I believe the women's committee will and should wait and take its cues from them."
In a Monday interview with ESPN, NCAA President Emmert said he was "surprised and disappointed" that Indiana had passed the law, which could allow businesses and individuals to use religious beliefs to deny service to gay and lesbian customers.
Pushback against the law has been so strong and widespread that Indiana legislative leaders said Monday they will amend the law so it does not permit such discrimination.
"I'm anxiously awaiting whatever clarification that the legislature can bring forward to this bill so we can really know what it means and what it doesn't mean," Emmert told ESPN. "As it becomes better understood, we're going to have to sit down and make judgments about whether or not it changes the environment for us doing our work and for us holding events."
That the men's Final Four will take place in Indianapolis Saturday and Monday has served to focus more attention on the law.
The NCAA headquarters is in Indianapolis.
phersh@tribpub.com
