Iowa’s Historic Win Over LSU in Elite Eight Breaks Records
In a groundbreaking moment for women’s college basketball, Iowa’s victory over LSU in the Elite Eight on Monday night has officially become the most-watched game in the sport’s history. The game, which saw Iowa triumph over LSU, drew an average of 12.3 million viewers and peaked at an astonishing 16.1 million viewers, making it ESPN’s second-highest draw for a basketball game since 2012.
The matchup between rising stars Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese shattered previous NCAA tournament title game records, with a record-breaking 9.9 million viewers tuning in to witness their epic showdown on the court. Clark, who is the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer, has not only made headlines for her exceptional talent but has also continued to draw massive audiences both in person and on television.
The surge in interest in women’s basketball can be attributed to the presence of exciting players like Clark and Reese, as well as the impressive freshman class that has taken the sport by storm. The exponential growth of the women’s basketball fan base is evident, with the most-viewed NCAA women’s basketball title game prior to the ESPN era in 1983 featuring legendary player Cheryl Miller and USC drawing 11.83 million viewers.
Looking ahead, the future of women’s basketball appears promising, with players like JuJu Watkins setting new records and star athletes like Paige Bueckers striving to lead their teams to NCAA titles. Bueckers and Clark are set to face off in the highly anticipated Final Four matchup on Friday night, which will be broadcasted on ESPN. As the excitement and momentum surrounding women’s basketball continue to build, fans can expect even more historic moments and record-breaking achievements in the seasons to come.
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