Friday night’s women’s Final Four matchup between Iowa and Connecticut shattered records for women’s college basketball viewership with 14.2 million viewers, ESPN announced on Saturday. The game surpassed the previous record set just days earlier in a national championship rematch between Iowa and LSU, drawing 12.3 million viewers. It was also the most-watched women’s college basketball game ever on ESPN platforms.
In addition to the impressive TV viewership numbers, Friday’s game was a big hit on ESPN+, becoming the most-viewed college event ever on the platform. It also ranked as ESPN’s second-best non-football telecast ever, peaking at 17 million viewers during the exciting matchup between Iowa and UConn. Iowa’s star player Caitlin Clark led the team to a 71-69 victory, scoring 21 points and securing the team’s second-straight national championship game appearance.
The matchup between Iowa and UConn, along with the other Final Four game between NC State and South Carolina, drew an average of 10.8 million viewers, making it the most-viewed women’s national semifinals on record. This marked a significant 138% increase in viewership year-over-year, according to ESPN. The network is now eagerly anticipating the national championship game between Iowa and undefeated South Carolina on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET, knowing that last year’s championship game drew an average of 9.9 million viewers.
One surprising fact to note is that Iowa’s game against UConn actually averaged more viewers than the average for last year’s World Series games, which drew 9.1 million viewers per game. It also exceeded the average viewership for the 2023 NBA Finals, which drew 11.6 million viewers per game. The impressive numbers for women’s college basketball highlight the growing popularity and interest in the sport, as more fans tune in to watch these high-stakes matchups.
Overall, the record-breaking viewership for the women’s Final Four games is a testament to the exciting and competitive nature of women’s college basketball. With stars like Caitlin Clark shining on the court and teams like Iowa and UConn delivering thrilling performances, fans are eagerly tuning in to witness the action. As the sport continues to grow in popularity and draw in larger audiences, it is clear that women’s college basketball is capturing the attention and hearts of viewers across the country.
