Women’s college basketball continues to gain popularity across the country, and there was no more evident evidence than Sunday’s national championship game between South Carolina and Iowa.
Some 18.9 million people tuned in to watch the Gamecocks beat the Hawkeyes and Caitlin Clark in a rematch of last year’s national semifinal to finish an undefeated season and win their second title in the last three seasons, with 24.1 million watching the latest 15 minutes of action around 4 pm to 4:15 pm central time.
Iowa upset a heavily favored and undefeated South Carolina team in the Women’s Final Four in Dallas last season, adding even more intrigue to Sunday’s game, particularly after the series of rematches and high-profile opponents Iowa endured along the way. toward the championship game and extended publicity. Clark has received thanks to her play on the court.
However, there seems to be more to it than that.
“You’re seeing growth in a lot of places: attendance records, viewership and social media engagement around March Madness,” UCLA coach Cori Close said. she told The Associated Press. “However, I don’t think you can attribute it to Iowa alone. A rising tide lifts all boats. But I think all of those boats have been in a lot of different waterways. The product is really good and the increased exposure is paying off.”
The numbers from Sunday’s game made it the most-watched women’s college basketball game in history and the most-watched basketball game overall since 2019, nearly doubling the previous record and easily surpassing the viewership of the men’s national championship game between UConn and Purdue on Monday. night, which averaged about 14.8 million viewers and also saw a repeat champion as UConn earned another win by at least 13 points, extending an NCAA tournament record.
“The remarkable viewership throughout this women’s basketball season is a testament to the incredible performances of the student-athletes on the court,” Nick Dawson, senior vice president of programming and acquisitions at ESPN, said in a press release. “The game has never been more competitive or full of great teams, stars and stories. The record numbers also reflect the successful collaboration between the NCAA and ESPN and our shared commitment to continuing to grow women’s basketball.”
The increased awareness and skill of women’s football has clearly taken it to new heights, and it could be just the beginning if networks continue to commit.
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2024-04-13 20:17:14
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