Concerns arose surrounding a potential decline in interest and attendance for women’s college basketball this season due to the departure of key figures like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese to the WNBA. Fortunately, the impact was minimal, with only a slight dip observed.
Stepping into the spotlight were players such as JuJu Watkins and Paige Bueckers, who significantly contributed to maintaining strong attendance figures just shy of last season’s record numbers. These figures represent the second-highest turnout in the history of women’s college basketball. The reach of the sport has expanded, with more television networks broadcasting games, and ratings remained robust as the anticipation for March Madness builds.
Fox increased its presence in the sport with several key broadcasts, including Saturday night primetime slots and a total of 18 games throughout the season. Mike Mulvihill, Fox Sports President of Insights and Analytics, acknowledged the positive trend over the years, emphasizing the growth and interest in women’s basketball. The network’s engagements from zero to significant coverage demonstrate increased confidence and justify the expansion into primetime.
Highlighted matchups have driven viewership, such as the game between Watkins’ USC and Bueckers’ UConn, which garnered 2.2 million viewers after an NFL game, reaching nearly 3.8 million at its peak. This was outpaced only by Caitlin Clark’s record-setting game the previous year. The network also introduced new tournaments, like the Champions Classic and the Coretta Scott King Invitational, both of which will return next season.
CBS also attracted impressive numbers with its broadcast of a UCLA versus USC matchup during the Big Ten title game, drawing 1.44 million viewers. Meanwhile, ESPN recorded a 3% increase in regular-season ratings compared to the last year and a remarkable 41% surge from two years prior.
With the NCAA Tournament rights, ESPN displays confidence in upcoming March Madness viewership. Women’s basketball programming director Dan Margulis observed growth leading into the tournament, even with last year’s unprecedented success. Key matchups, such as Iowa versus an undefeated South Carolina, highlighted historic narratives that generated considerable viewer interest.
The Elite Eight rematch featuring Reese and Clark was notably significant, illustrating the risen interest in the sport. Lead ESPN announcer Rebecca Lobo highlights expectations for this year’s tournament to exceed pre-Clark years, noting heightened parity within the sport.
Increased attendance at games provides further evidence of growing enthusiasm. Power conferences, particularly the SEC, achieved impressive attendance figures, setting records for total and specific rounds in their tournament. The Big Ten followed suit with substantial attendances over the past 15 years.
The electric atmosphere was apparent during matchups, such as the South Carolina-LSU game, which hosted a substantial student presence. Discussions around the growing attendance from students across the country indicate a positive trend with lively game environments contributing to the sport’s flourishing status.
