• Loading stock data...
Monday, July 7, 2025

‘Absurd’ Caitlin Clark Draws Absurd TV Numbers for Iowa-LSU

  • Monday’s Elite Eight matchup blew by the ratings record set in last year’s women’s final.
  • It was also ESPN’s most-watched college hoops game ever, men’s or women’s.
The Des Moines Register

ESPN’s Elle Duncan called Caitlin Clark’s skill set “absurd” Monday night. So too, it seems, is Clark’s ability to supercharge TV audiences. 

With Clark avenging last year’s championship-game loss, the ESPN telecast of Iowa’s 94–87 win over LSU averaged a staggering 12.3 million viewers Monday night. That made it the most-watched women’s college basketball game on record, far surpassing the previous mark: 9.9 million viewers for the Tigers’ title win last April. It was also the most-watched college hoops game ever, men’s or women’s, on ESPN platforms.

The fact that this happened in an Elite Eight regional indicates that Clark is drawing both hard-core sports fans and casual TV viewers eager to find out what the fuss is all about. And it’s particularly impressive given the slow death of the cable TV bundle. ESPN’s distribution has fallen to 71 million U.S. households, from a broadcast-network-like high of 100 million in 2012.

ESPN’s upcoming Final Four telecast of Iowa versus Connecticut won’t match the pregame drama of the Iowa-LSU rematch. But UConn has its own ratings draw in Paige Bueckers, plus the lineage of the winningest women’s college basketball program ever, with 11 national titles. With Clark being the biggest story in sports, TV ratings expert Douglas Pucci tells me he predicts Iowa-UConn to post another record, even with a 9:30 p.m. ET tip time. 

If Clark advances, a dream title game matchup between Iowa and unbeaten South Carolina would pull more than 16 million viewers, Pucci predicts, perhaps even outdrawing the men’s championship. On the other hand, an Iowa–NC State title game, he thinks, would draw roughly 13 million. That would still be a women’s record, but probably not enough to top this year’s men’s title game. (And if Clark and Iowa are knocked out in the Final Four? He predicts the women’s championship-game viewership would plummet to 6.5 million viewers.)

For context: UConn’s blowout win over San Diego State in the men’s title game last year averaged 14.69 million viewers on CBS. Notably, though, the men’s national championship April 8 will be shown on cable TV, across TBS, TNT, and truTV. The most ratings-friendly men’s championship matchup would appear to be blueblood UConn vs. NC State. Led by DJ Burns, the Wolfpack’s upset of the Blue Devils on Easter Sunday drew 15.1 million viewers, the best number for a men’s Elite Eight game in five years.


Michael McCarthy’s “Tuned In” column is at your fingertips every week with the latest insights and ongoings around sports media. If he hears it, you will, too.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Liverpool to Pay Diogo Jota’s $20M Contract to His Widow

Jota had two years remaining on his contract.

American Celebs Want to Be Sports Owners. Soccer Is Where They Start

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.
Jul 2, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) heads to the dugout prior to the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Dodger Stadium.

MLB Changes Are ‘Showing Great Results’: Former CFO

Big stars playing in major markets “make a real difference.”

Featured Today

Baseball’s Celebrity Row: Behind MLB’s First-Pitch Ritual

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.
July 4, 2025

3,000 Hot Dogs, $20K in Prizes: Behind the Nathan’s Eating Contest

Nathan’s serves up thousands of hot dogs and $20,000 in prize money.
July 3, 2025

Geoffrey Esper Can’t Catch a Break at Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

“Hot dogs is not one of my favorite competitions of the year.”
June 29, 2025

The Battle Over Wimbledon’s Ambitious Expansion Plan

A classic NIMBY standoff on one of the most hallowed grounds in sports.
exclusive

ESPN’s Jeremy Schaap Strives to Discover Joey Chestnut’s Secret

Schaap calls his second Hot Dog Eating Contest July 4.
exclusive
July 1, 2025

ESPN, Fox Reluctant to Share Talent With Netflix for Christmas NFL Games

ESPN talents who worked last year’s games include Laura Rutledge and Mina Kimes.
opinion
July 3, 2025

Caitlin Clark’s Media Supporters Pushing Harder Against Slights

Dick Vitale, Colin Cowherd, and others are accusing other WNBA players of jealousy.
Sponsored

Hottest Matchups Following NFL Schedule Release

The NFL released the 2025 regular-season schedule, and anticipation is already building in the ticket marketplace with four months to go.
June 30, 2025

ESPN, MLB Relationship May Not Be Over After All

The parties restart rights talks amid a high-profile divorce in February.
Jun 10, 2025; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) drops back to pass during minicamp at their South Side facility.
opinion
June 30, 2025

Steelers Win-Now Mode Is Good News for NFL Media Partners

The conservative “Steeler Way” has finally adapted—and media partners are happy.
exclusive
June 27, 2025

TNT Will No Longer Operate NBA TV, NBA.com, Signaling Another Shift

TNT had operated NBA TV and NBA.com since 2008.
June 26, 2025

NBA Draft Ratings Fall 14.5% Despite Early Cooper Flagg Lift

3.77 million viewers watched across ESPN and ABC.