national championship game brought in more viewers than the men’s basketball national championship game. The women’s matchup, which starred Caitlin Clark, Iowa, coach Dawn Staley and South Carolina
The world of college athletics is shifting as we know it.
On April 9, it was officially announced that the women’s basketball national championship game brought in more viewers than the men’s basketball national championship game for the first time ever. The women’s matchup, which starred Caitlin Clark, Iowa, coach Dawn Staley and South Carolina, brought in 18.9 million viewers, according to ESPN. The men’s game, which featured Zach Edey, Purdue, coach Dan Hurley and UConn, brought in 14.8 million viewers, according to Front Office Sports.
For the first time in history, the NCAA women's basketball title game drew more viewers than the men's. pic.twitter.com/DTJbevFpBh
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) April 9, 2024
“18.7 MILLION 🔥,” Clark posted on X.
Clark also reposted the fact that her final three college games were the most-watched in women’s college basketball history. Her Final Four matchup against Paige Bueckers and UConn was ESPN’s highest-rated basketball game ever on the network, and Scott Van Pelt’s postgame show on his late-night “SportsCenter” was one of the highest-rated shows he’s had.
This year’s championship game was also the highest-rated, non-NFL game broadcasted this season outside Michigan-Ohio State’s football rivalry.
The narrative of this year’s national championship was one of redemption, particularly for the Gamecocks’ guard, Raven Johnson. Hailing from Atlanta, Johnson had a point to prove after being left open for a three-pointer by Clark in last season’s final four. The nonchalant wave-off from Clark, captured in a viral clip, became a weight that Johnson carried throughout the offseason. However, in the championship win, Johnson’s resilience and determination shone through as she held Clark to 12 points for the final three quarters, sealing an undefeated season.
“That get back a m——,” Johnson told NCAA reporter Autumn Johnson after the win.
South Carolina’s championship victory also elevated coach Dawn Staley into the realm of coaching royalty. With this win, she joins the elite group of five women’s college basketball coaches in history who have won three or more championships. Notably, she is the only Black coach in this esteemed company, a testament to her trailblazing career and the impact of her representation in the sport.
