The recent Elite 8 showdown between the Iowa Hawkeyes and LSU Tigers has set a new record as the most-watched women’s college basketball game in history. An impressive 12.3 million viewers tuned in to witness the Hawkeyes secure their spot in the Final 4, led by Caitlin Clark.
Broadcast on ESPN in the U.S., the game resulted in a 94-87 victory for Iowa and garnered an average viewership of 12.3 million, as reported by Nielsen. Caitlin Clark’s remarkable performance, during which she scored 41 points, played a pivotal role in capturing the attention of basketball fans nationwide. The victory held special significance for the Hawkeyes as it allowed them to avenge their loss to LSU in last year’s national championship game.
This historic viewership figure surpassed the previous record set by the 1983 NCAA championship game between Southern California and Louisiana Tech, which was watched by 11.84 million viewers. It is noteworthy that LSU coach Kim Mulkey had participated in that championship game for Louisiana Tech and had competed against USC legend Cheryl Miller.
In addition to the Elite 8 game, Caitlin Clark’s performances in the women’s NCAA Tournament have attracted significant viewership, with an average of 6.83 million viewers for the four games broadcasted on ESPN and ABC.
Looking ahead, Iowa is scheduled to face UConn in the national semifinal on Friday, which is anticipated to be another highly-anticipated matchup. The winner of that game will go on to compete against either South Carolina or North Carolina State in the national championship game. The national championship game will be televised on ABC, offering basketball fans an exciting viewing experience.
The Iowa Hawkeyes’ ability to attract viewers extends beyond the Elite 8 matchup, as their 89-68 triumph over Colorado in the regional semifinal game on Saturday also received significant attention. The game averaged 6.9 million viewers on ABC, making it the third most-watched women’s tournament game since ESPN began broadcasting the tournament in 1996.
Additionally, Iowa’s recent games have consistently drawn large audiences, with the last five games on television all surpassing 3 million viewers. Notably, the last three games have each garnered at least 4.9 million viewers, indicating a growing interest in women’s college basketball.
The LSU Tigers also contributed to the high viewership numbers, with their victory over UCLA on Saturday, preceding the Iowa game, averaging 3.8 million viewers. This made it the second most-watched Sweet 16 game on record. Furthermore, South Carolina’s win over Indiana and UConn’s victory over Duke also drew substantial viewership figures, with averages of 2.1 million and 1.7 million, respectively.
The surge in viewership of women’s college basketball games is a testament to the growing interest and support for the sport. As the Women’s Final Four approaches, anticipation is building for captivating matchups and outstanding performances from the talented athletes competing at the highest level.