The women's NCAA championship game between South Carolina and Iowa on Sunday garnered an impressive preliminary audience average of 18.7 million viewers on ABC and ESPN, marking a significant milestone in women's college basketball viewership. This viewership figure positions the game as one of the most-watched basketball events since 2019, with only football, the World Cup, and the Olympics surpassing it in TV audience numbers in the United States.
The final audience numbers are anticipated to rise further when Nielsen releases its official data on Tuesday, with the peak viewership during the game reaching 24 million. This game stands out as the most-watched basketball event since 2019, surpassing the men's NCAA title game between Virginia and Texas Tech in 2019.
Notably, the men's final between UConn and Purdue on Monday night was broadcast on TBS and TNT, potentially making this year the first where the women's title game outperforms the men's final in terms of viewership. The 2015 Final Four game between Wisconsin and Kentucky remains the only college basketball game on cable to have drawn a larger audience than the recent women's championship game.
Caitlin Clark and Iowa have been instrumental in driving viewership for women's college basketball, with their games consistently attracting large audiences. The Hawkeyes' matchups, including their victory over UConn and LSU, have been among the most-watched games in recent years.
The significant increase in viewership for this year's women's championship game compared to previous years highlights the growing popularity and appeal of women's college basketball. The game's audience was up 89% from last year and a remarkable 285% higher than the viewership for South Carolina's title win two years ago.
Furthermore, the women's final also set a record for the largest audience for a Sunday afternoon sporting event on ESPN and ABC since January 10, 2021, when an NFL playoff game between the Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans attracted 24.82 million viewers. This achievement underscores the growing interest and support for women's sports on major television networks.
Overall, the remarkable viewership numbers for the women's NCAA championship game reflect the increasing prominence and popularity of women's college basketball, setting a new standard for future events in the sport.
