Most of the apparel offered to the University’s student-athletes can be bought in campus stores, stands set up before stadiums during games and online.

There are a few pieces of apparel that Nike makes exclusively for or releases to the teams before it’s released to the general public. But other than those special items, most of the University’s teams receive the same generic apparel — sweatshirts, sweatpants and knit hats, for example.

Although most sports receive similar apparel, there is a disparity between genders that play the same sport. Even with the exception of gender-specific clothes, like sports bras, there are instances where a women’s team is given more in value compared to the men’s team and vice versa.

The basketball, golf and gymnastics teams are the three sports with the largest value gap between teams of different genders. The most noticeable difference is between the gymnastics teams. A gymnast on the women’s team receives $2,007.70 worth of apparel compared to the $641.80 value a male gymnast receives.

The main difference between the two is in the competition gear. The women gymnasts receive five long-sleeve leotards valued at $200 each and seven leotards valued at $75 each. In comparison, the men’s inventory lists $300 worth of competition gear. The rest of the apparel handed out to both teams is almost valued at the same price for men and women — for example a women’s training shoe is worth $47.70, compared to the Zoom Vomero 9 team shoe the men receive, valued at $58.30.

The basketball teams have a disparity in value as well, but both receive values that rank in the top five among all Illinois teams. A men’s basketball player receives $3,780 worth of apparel compared to women’s basketball player, who receives $2,556.85. One major difference between the team is the uniforms — the men’s five game uniforms are worth $1,325 compared to the women’s four, which are worth $1,060.

Another difference involves court shoes. The men receive at least two pairs, valued at an average of $87.50. Each player has a different playing style and some go through shoes quicker than others, which is why the amount of shoes ordered for each player differs. Women basketball players receive three pairs of court shoes valued at an average $71.55 per pair.

The final major difference between genders was found in the golf teams. A golfer for the men’s team receives $1,737.30 worth of apparel compared to the $980.80 a female golfer receives. The men receive a rain jacket and rain pant valued at $240 and $190, respectively, compared to the $140 and $95 value, respectively, of the same items given to the women.

The price for the rest of the items are relatively the same — both receive a training shoe valued at $58.30, and the women receive one golf shoe worth $105 compared to the $110 Lunar control shoe the men receive.

According to Illinois Head Athletic Equipment Manager Rick Raven, the list of apparel that is allotted to each team isn’t decided before every season — it was decided by the University’s administration back when Illinois and Nike reached their initial agreement.

“That was decided upon back when the contract was signed,” Raven said. “It’s been the same ever since with minor changes.”

But despite the differences between genders, Title IX (1972) does not necessarily come into play.

Raven is not told to make sure that the teams receive the same value of apparel for both genders. The language of Title IX does not demand equal spending.

Title IX allows for different spending as long as the athletic department in question supplies “equal athletic opportunity for teams of both sexes.” If the equipment and apparel the University provides does not place a team of either sex at a disadvantage to the other, there is no Title IX violation.

With the exception of the gymnastics, basketball and golf teams, the gender disparity per athletes in the same sports is limited to a couple hundred dollars, the price of a rain jacket or pair of rain pants. Student-athletes of all sports can be seen around campus wearing the same warmups and same knit hats.

And loyal fans can outfit themselves in the same orange and blue gear as their favorite athletes, literally supporting the University with the clothes off their backs.

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