Iowa’s thrilling 71-69 victory over UConn in the women’s Final Four has captured the attention of an astounding 14.2 million viewers on ESPN, making it the most-watched women’s basketball game in history and the highest-rated ESPN basketball broadcast to date. The previous record was set at 12.3 million during the Iowa-LSU game in the Elite Eight just last Monday. Interestingly, ESPN’s most-watched basketball game was Game 7 of the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference finals, attracting 13.51 million viewers.
The showdown between Iowa and UConn has not only broken records in women’s basketball but also ranks as one of the most-viewed games across all sports, trailing only college football and the NFL in recent years. To provide some context, last year’s NCAA men’s basketball championship game between San Diego State and UConn averaged 14.79 million viewers. The peak viewership for the game reached an impressive 17 million, solidifying its status as one of the top 50 primetime telecasts of 2024.
In addition to this remarkable achievement, this game stands as the second-highest audience for a non-football broadcast in ESPN’s history – the first being the United States-Portugal match during group play in the 2014 men’s soccer World Cup, which drew an average of 18.22 million viewers. The last time a non-football game attracted at least 14 million viewers was in 2022 during Golden State’s victory over Boston in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. This clearly demonstrates the immense popularity and influence of the Iowa-UConn matchup.
Turning our attention to the viewership for March Madness, Clark’s five games on ESPN and ABC during the period have averaged 8.3 million viewers, further highlighting the increasing interest in collegiate sports. As excitement continues to build, Iowa is preparing to face South Carolina for the national championship this Sunday afternoon on ABC.
On the other hand, South Carolina’s commanding 78-59 victory over NC State also made a significant impact in the ratings, attracting an average of 7.1 million viewers. This ranks as the third-most-watched women’s national semifinal since records began in 1992. The previous record was set by the Stanford vs. Virginia game on CBS in 1992, which drew an impressive 8.1 million viewers. The combined viewership for both games on Friday came in at 10.8 million, marking a substantial 138% increase from the previous year.
In conclusion, the monumental viewership numbers surrounding these games underscore the increasing popularity and impact of women’s basketball and collegiate sports in general. As we eagerly anticipate the upcoming championship game, it is evident that the thrill and excitement of these matchups have successfully captured the attention of millions of viewers, making history in the process.