The University of South Carolina’s victory over Iowa in the NCAA women’s basketball championship game on Sunday has set a new viewership record for women’s college basketball, with an average of 18.7 million viewers tuning in. The game peaked at 24 million viewers, making it the most-watched basketball game of any kind since 2019, surpassing both men’s and women’s games at the pro and college level. This victory comes just days after Iowa broke the previous viewership record in its game against UConn.
In addition to being the most-watched basketball game in years, Sunday’s championship game is also the most-watched spring sporting event since 2019, with the exception of football and the Olympics. It is now the second most-watched non-Olympic women’s sporting event of all time, second only to the 2015 Women’s World Cup Final which had 25.4 million viewers. ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro described the championship as a fitting finale to the most-viewed NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament ever.
Iowa broke the viewership record for women’s college basketball three times in the last week, first in a game against LSU on April 1, then in a Final Four game against UConn on April 5, and finally in Sunday’s championship game. The increase in viewership from last year’s championship match between Iowa and LSU was an impressive 89%, while the increase from the 2022 championship featuring South Carolina and UConn was a staggering 285%.
Many are now wondering if the support for women’s basketball at the college level will transfer to the WNBA. Players like Caitlin Clark, Kamilla Cardoso, and Angel Reese, who have all declared for the April 15 draft, have gained significant followings during their college careers. It remains to be seen if these fans will continue to support them in their professional careers in a league that typically faces lower viewership than the NBA.
Overall, the viewership numbers for the NCAA women’s basketball championship game showcase the growing popularity and interest in women’s sports. The record-breaking numbers demonstrate the level of talent and excitement that the women’s game has to offer, and the potential for continued growth and success in the future. As more fans tune in to watch these incredible athletes compete, the future of women’s basketball looks bright.
