Monday’s rematch between Iowa and LSU in the Elite 8 game of the women’s college basketball tournament drew a record-setting 12.3 million viewers, breaking the previous record for women’s college basketball viewership. Iowa emerged victorious with a score of 94-87, led by star player Caitlin Clark who scored an impressive 41 points. The previous record was set in last year’s championship game between the same two teams, which drew an average of 9.9 million viewers and a peak of 12.6 million. This year’s game surpassed viewership numbers for other major sporting events such as the World Series and the NBA Finals.
The Final Four matchups for the women’s tournament promise to be exciting, with South Carolina facing off against North Carolina State and Iowa playing against Connecticut. Last year’s women’s semifinal game between Iowa and South Carolina garnered an average of 5.5 million viewers. Interestingly, tickets for the women’s Final Four and championship games are priced higher on average compared to men’s tickets, according to data from ticket sales company TicketiQ. The average resale price for this year’s women’s semifinals was $1,994, while men’s tickets were priced at $1,603.
ESPN also announced that this year’s women’s Sweet 16 games were the most watched on record, seeing a 96% increase in viewership compared to last year. The Sweet 16 games featured four of the five most watched women’s Sweet 16 games on record, with the matchup between Colorado and Iowa attracting 6.9 million viewers. Overall, the NCAA Division I Women’s Tournament has accumulated 6.7 billion minutes of viewership through the Sweet 16, setting a new record high for the tournament.
The surge in viewership for women’s college basketball reflects the growing popularity and interest in the sport. The high level of competition and exciting matchups in this year’s tournament have captured the attention of fans across the country. As more viewers tune in to watch the games, the women’s basketball tournament continues to make history with record-breaking viewership numbers. With the Final Four games approaching, all eyes will be on the teams as they battle it out for a spot in the championship game.
The success of the women’s basketball tournament highlights the incredible talent and athleticism of the players, including standout performances like Caitlin Clark’s impressive 41-point game. Fans can expect more thrilling moments and intense matchups as the tournament progresses towards the championship game. With record-breaking viewership numbers and high anticipation for the Final Four games, women’s college basketball is proving to be a major draw for sports fans everywhere. Stay tuned for more exciting games and memorable moments as the tournament reaches its thrilling conclusion.
