According to ESPN, Iowa’s 71-69 victory against UConn in Friday’s NCAA Final Four game attracted a record-breaking 14.2 million viewers, making it the most-watched women’s college basketball game in history.
The game drew the biggest viewership for a basketball game, whether college or professional, and ranked as the second-highest non-football broadcast in the network’s history.
According to ESPN, Friday’s game attracted a staggering 17 million viewers, surpassing the viewership of every World Series and NBA Finals game last year.
The matchup between Iowa and UConn surpassed a viewership record that was established a few days earlier. The record was set when the Hawkeyes triumphed over LSU in the Elite Eight, attracting an impressive 12.3 million viewers on Monday.
Caitlin Clark, who holds the record for being the all-time leading scorer in NCAA history, once again showcased her skills by delivering an outstanding performance that propelled the Hawkeyes to victory over the Huskies. While she scored 21 points, which was slightly below her season average of 31.7 points per game, it was sophomore forward Hannah Stuelke who stole the show with an impressive 23 points, the highest in the game.
South Carolina’s emphatic 78-59 victory over N.C. State in the previous Final Four game drew a peak viewership of 9 million. According to ESPN, the 2024 Final Four recorded an average viewership of 10.8 million, showing a remarkable 138% increase compared to the previous year.
South Carolina has maintained an impeccable winning record this season, with no losses to their name.
“South Carolina has been at the pinnacle,” Clark expressed following Friday’s triumph. “They are in a league of their own. We will make every effort to be on par with them.”
The national championship game between the Hawkeyes and Gamecocks is scheduled for Sunday at 3 p.m. ET.
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