Caitlin Clark Mania Continues As Iowa-Maryland Draws Record Ratings

Caitlin Clark’s hot streak continues. 

Fox reported Saturday’s game between Clark’s Hawkeyes and the Maryland Terrapins had roughly 1.6 million viewers, making it the most-watched women’s basketball game in the network’s history. 

Additionally, the Caitlin Clark Cam, an alternate viewing experience on TikTok, had roughly 800,000 viewers. 

It’s another installment in the sensation Clark has created in her storied college career. Clark led Iowa to the national championship game a year ago. But the Hawkeyes lost to LSU in a game that also drew record ratings and once again has Iowa in national title contention this season with the team at 21–2. 

Clark has dominated the name, image, and likeness game, as last December, Iowa’s leading scorer signed a multiyear partnership with Gatorade. While financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, Gatorade said it would donate $22,000 (No. 22 is her jersey number) in Clark’s honor to the Caitlin Clark Foundation as part of its Equity in Sport initiative. 

The deal was the latest in an impressive NIL portfolio, which helps solidify Clark as one of the most marketable players in all of college sports. Her portfolio was already impressive. In October, she became the first NCAA athlete to sign with State Farm. She also has deals with major brands, including Nike, Buick, Topps, and H&R Block.

The Hawkeyes play Sunday at Nebraska and are once again expected to draw both a big crowd and strong ratings with this game airing on Fox at 1 p.m. ET to avoid interfering with the Super Bowl.