The University of South Carolina’s victory in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament finals wasn’t the only triumph. The television networks broadcasting the game also emerged as winners, with a record-setting number of viewers tuning in to witness history on Sunday.
The championship game between South Carolina’s Gamecocks and the University of Iowa’s Hawkeyes averaged an astounding 18.7 million viewers and peaked at a staggering 24 million combined on ESPN and ABC. This milestone marks the first time in history that a women’s final has drawn a larger television audience than the men’s tournament, according to ESPN.
In contrast, the men’s Division 1 championship game between UConn and Purdue averaged 14.82 million viewers on TBS and TNT.
Sunday’s title game wasn’t the only glass ceiling shattered; it was also the most-watched basketball game, encompassing both men’s and women’s college and professional levels, since 2019.
The record-breaking viewership numbers extended beyond the finals. Sunday’s game was the third consecutive night of record-setting television viewership for the women’s college tournament. The Elite Eight matchup between Iowa and LSU drew a then-record 12.3 million viewers, with a peak audience of 16.1 million. The subsequent semifinals between Iowa and the University of Connecticut broke that record, attracting 14.2 million TV viewers, according to ESPN.
ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro hailed the championship faceoff as “a fitting finale” to the March Madness tournament, stating, “These exceptional athletes, coaches and teams captured our attention in unprecedented ways, and it’s incumbent on all of us to keep the incredible momentum going.”
A new generation of superstar athletes has fueled a newfound passion for women’s basketball. Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, the most prolific scorer in NCAA history this season, has been a major draw. Other standout players include LSU’s Angel Reese, the NCAA’s record-holder for double-doubles in a season; UConn’s Paige Bueckers, who will return for her senior season; and the freshman phenom from USC, JuJu Watkins.
With this remarkable surge in viewership, the women’s game has firmly established its place in the mainstream sporting landscape, captivating audiences and inspiring a new generation of fans.
