In Östersund, Borås and Luleå, the men's and women's teams are run by different clubs.

In Södertälje, Uppsala and Norrköping, the same club represents teams in the highest basketball series for both men and women.

- It is not easy, I can say, but we notice that it is perceived positively that we have everything under the same umbrella, says David Bergström.

Before this year's season, Borås Basket, A3 (from Umeå), Helsingborgs Basket and Wetterbygden Basketball (from Huskvarna) withdrew from the Women's Basketball League.

The Borås team then returned to the highest league in the form of the new association Sjuhärad Basket.

- Regardless of whether it's about ladies or gentlemen, it's a challenge both to step up and to stay there.

It's easy to say that you "should" be involved, but then it's another thing to do it financially, says David Bergström.

"It was a steel bath"

For Norrköping Dolphins, they have gone from being bankrupt in 2019 to winning double gold in 2022.

- It was a steel bath, it was rolling up your sleeves and working hard.

We have made great strides in sponsorship revenue since then.

When the crisis was a fact, costs were cut considerably, the men's budget was halved but the women's budget was not touched.

- We were not about to collapse because of the women's budget.

It was the men's budget that was broken, says David Bergström.

The conditions must be the same in terms of accommodation, training conditions, medical team and travel to matches.

And all sponsorship income goes to the same club coffers.

- Then the women's and men's side have their own budgets, but it is the market that controls salaries, says David Bergström.

"The goal is the final on the men's side and the semi-finals on the women's side"

The investment continues on both the women's and men's side.

- This year the goal is finals on the men's side and semifinals on the women's side, then I also want us to establish ourselves in Europe, says David Bergström.

Both teams won gold, but the target is slightly lower for the ladies and they also don't play European games like the men do.

- The gold on the women's side came earlier than planned because we were a little lucky and hit the right spot with the imports.

We have our own talented youth players that we are building with there, while the men already have established national team players.

In three years we will see that the ladies are out in Europe.

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"Gold is the only thing that counts..." Photo: SVT/Bildbyrån