The game between Iowa and LSU in the Elite Eight drew a record 12.3 million viewers, making it the most-watched women’s college basketball game in history. This figure surpassed the previous high from the NCAA championship game between the same teams the previous season. ESPN reported that this game had the highest viewership of any college basketball game ever on its platforms and the second-highest of any basketball game since 2012. The game was also the biggest betting event for women’s sports according to FanDuel. The top-seeded Hawkeyes, led by Caitlin Clark, avenged a loss to LSU in last year’s title game, with Clark finishing with 41 points, 12 assists, and 7 rebounds.
The women’s Elite Eight games averaged 6.2 million viewers, up 184% year-over-year, with four of the top five most-watched games in that round on record. LSU’s Angel Reese, who had 17 points and 20 rebounds in the game, spoke postgame about the challenges and threats she has faced over the past year. Reese’s turmoil began when she made a gesture towards Clark near the end of last year’s title game, which led to negative attention and threats. Despite this, she remains unapologetically herself and stands by her actions. Iowa will now face UConn in the Final Four, with the winner moving on to the national championship game against either South Carolina or NC State.
Caitlin Clark, who recently became the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer, is expected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever. Clark surpassed Pete Maravich’s scoring record in March and currently has 3,900 career points. The Final Four matchup between Iowa and UConn will take place at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, with the winner advancing to the national championship game on Sunday. UConn, coached by Hall of Famer Geno Auriemma and with 11 national championships, will provide a tough test for Iowa in their quest for a title. The excitement and anticipation surrounding the Final Four games are high, with fans eagerly awaiting to see which team will emerge victorious.
