Los Angeles, California (U-WIRE) -- The NCAA signed a new 11-year, $200 million television rights contract with ESPN on July 5, which will give the network broadcasting control of the women's basketball tournament along with 20 other national championships.

Its current contract, worth $19 million over seven years, will expire after the 2001-02 season. ESPN, which can renegotiate after eight years, will obtain the rights for various Division I men's and women's tournaments, including indoor track and field, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis and volleyball. However, women's basketball was the primary component of the package.

"This deal presented the opportunity for us to expand our current coverage of college sports and increase our coverage of women's sports at the same time, both of which we feel can be a big part of our growing programming lineup," said Josh Krulewitz, manager of communications for ESPN. "The women's tournament will be the cornerstone of this event, providing us with the opportunity to showcase it like we have never done before."

Beginning in the 2003-04 season, the network will broadcast all 63 women's basketball tournament games nationally, a large leap from the 23 it aired under the previous agreement. Regional first- and second-round games will be provided by ESPN and ESPN2, along with pay-per-view coverage for games played by out-of-state teams.

"It is a monumental move for the championship and it will really put its place as one of the premiere collegiate sporting events in the country," said Scottie Rodgers, the assistant director of the Division I women's basketball championship.

Alongside the coverage, the tournament could also see some major schedule changes. Among the possible alterations, the games would be played on a Sunday-Tuesday format as early as 2003, rather than the current Friday-Sunday one. Discussions will be held by the Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet in Sept.

Joan Bonvicini, Arizona's women's basketball head coach, noted that the suggested shift will eliminate the current overlap with men's games, which obtain more widespread attention and coverage.

According to Krulewitz, the new deal also includes ESPN's future promotional package. The network plans on marketing collegiate athletics over its numerous entities, such as ESPN.com, ESPN Radio, ESPN Classic, ESPN The Magazine, and ESPNEWS.

"This is something that gives a great deal of stability and validity to women's basketball," said LSU head coach Sue Gunter. "We still have a long way to go, but I think it is a step in the right direction."