The Women's Final Four captivated millions across the country on Friday evening, and the viewership numbers back it up.
ESPN revealed that the 2023 Women's Final Four was its most viewed edition of the NCAA Division I women's college basketball semifinal across ESPN platforms in recorded history, according to viewership data from Nielsen's fast nationals.
Per ESPN, across its platforms, the two NCAA tournament semifinal games averaged 4.5 million viewers, up 66% from last season’s Final Four games.
In particular, Caitlin Clark and Iowa’s matchup against Aliyah Boston and South Carolina drew the most eyes, with ESPN reporting as many as 5.5 million viewers, an increase of 72% from 2022.
#WFinalFour 𝐒𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐒 across ESPN platforms to become the most-viewed #NCAAWBB semis (4.5M avg viewers) in ESPN history
— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) April 1, 2023
🏆@IowaWBB vs. @GamecockWBB | 5.5M viewers | Peak: 6.6M
🏆@LSUwbkb vs. @HokiesWBB | 3.4M viewers | Peak: 5M
🏆2 most-viewed 🏀 games ever on @ESPNPlus pic.twitter.com/qHD3VtYp3F
The matchup between LSU and Virginia Tech was viewed by 3.4 million viewers, an increase of 57% year over year.
On ESPN+, the network's streaming service, the two semifinal matchups were the most-viewed college basketball games ever on the platform among men's and women's games, indicating just how great the appeal was over Friday night's games.
Clark and the Hawkeyes punched the program's first-ever national championship ticket as the junior guard dropped 41 points in a 77-73 victory over the Gamecocks.
Iowa will take on LSU on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. EST in the national championship.
