The first time I felt a raw surge of passion for sports writing was in the seventh grade, when UConn won its third national title in eight years with a 39-0 season. I couldn’t wait to get Sports Illustrated and engross my adolescent self in the details offered about UConn’s closely-netted seniors, whose lives and interactions both on and off the court were keenly detailed in the feature. The engaging narratives embedded in the sporting event made for a memorable experience. However, as a women’s college basketball enthusiast in the ’90s and 2000s, it was hard to ignore the lack of attention and systematic stifling of women’s sports; derogatory columns and lukewarm support were the predictable lows that came with the highs.
This year, there’s been a notable change occurring within the WNBA and women’s college sports, as they continue to attract record-breaking crowds and TV ratings. Teams across the league undeniably experienced the “Caitlin Clark Effect” during the summer. Building on this momentum, the college season has opened to continued interest even without last season’s stars. Teams such as UConn, LSU, and Iowa, routinely sold out their tickets, and the national championship game tickets hit the resale market to much demand; all before the title game in five months.
Dawn Staley, a prolific figure with an impressive tally of victories in women’s basketball, describes the current moment within the sport as being uniquely different. She reflects on how the exclusion of women in sports prior to Title IX, the male-focused NCAA, and the media that limited women’s games from reaching wider audiences held the sport back. However, the unprecedented viewership numbers pulled in by the women’s national title game last season moderated this trend and kindled a renewed sense of optimism for the future.
Individuals associated with women’s basketball harbor hopes that the current surge in the sport’s popularity is not a fleeting moment, but a tipping point. Tara VanDerveer, who has been in the sport long enough to have experienced its highs and lows, expresses the need for continuous investment, support, and enthusiasm to sustain the momentum. She underlines the significance of nurturing young talent, establishing enthusiastic intercollegiate tournaments, and building a passionate WNBA fanbase.
This season, stars like JuJu Watkins, Paige Bueckers, and the ever-dominant Gamecocks look to push the boundaries of the sport further. The reformed NIL regulations have resulted in a shift in the marketing dynamics of women’s basketball players and catalyzed the expansion of the fan base. The shift in power and the potential for any team to make it to the Final Four has not only resulted in increasing parity in the game but also made it more exciting and unpredictable.
The current success and popularity of women’s college basketball is long overdue. It is a testament to the growing realization that the sport is worthy of more than secondary billing and deserves an unhinging from the traditional power structures of the NCAA. It is now clear that women’s college basketball is capable of commanding attention and respect on its own terms; it deserves more than three words on a cover page and a dismissive column on the back page. As decision-makers and stakeholders continue to take note of this change, a new generation of young watchers is eagerly tuning in.
