South Carolina and Iowa closed an electric NCAA women’s tournament with another ratings record.
According to ESPN, a resounding 18.7 million average viewers watched the Gamecocks finish an undefeated season with an 87-75 victory over the Hawkeyes. It surpassed Iowa’s semifinal win over UConn — which topped Iowa’s Elite Eight triumph over LSU — as the most-watched women’s college basketball game of all time.
The ratings nearly doubled the 9.9 million viewers who saw LSU defeat Iowa in last year’s National Championship Game. Furthermore, Sunday’s matchup was the most-watched basketball game of any kind since 2019.
Outside of football and the Olympics, no sporting event has garnered better ratings in the last four years.
Excluding the NFL, the annual college football rivalry matchup between Michigan and Ohio State was the only sporting event that attracted more viewers in 2023. Last year’s men’s Final Four drew 14.69 million average viewers.
Every Iowa game set a new benchmark during its second straight runner-up finish. After 12.3 million average viewers saw the Hawkeyes get revenge on LSU, 14.2 million watched them eliminate UConn last Friday night.
Another record-setting audience didn’t get to see Caitlin Clark end her legendary college career with a national title. The NCAA all-time scoring leader added 30 points to her tally in a losing effort at Cleveland.
Instead, head coach Dawn Staley won her third national title behind 19 points from freshman Tessa Johnson and 17 rebounds from center Kamilla Cardoso. The Gamecocks withstood a 10-0 Hawkeyes run to start the contest.
ESPN added that they expect the final ratings to rise once Nielsen completes its reporting.