• Loading stock data...
Friday, July 4, 2025

Caitlin Clark Pulls Most-Watched Women’s Semifinal

Caitlin Clark
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The heroics of sharp-shooting Hawkeye Caitlin Clark drew monster TV numbers for ESPN’s telecast of Iowa vs. South Carolina on Friday night.

Iowa’s 77-73 win over defending national champion South Carolina averaged 5.5 million viewers, up 72% from last year’s comparable NCAA women’s basketball Final Four game.

That made it the most-watched women’s semifinal ever – easily blowing past the 3.76 million viewers for the Baylor vs. Stanford Final Four matchup in 2012.

The Hawkeyes vs. Gamecocks peaked at 6.6 million viewers, according to Nielsen Fast Nationals.

Friday night’s semifinal even topped last year’s women’s national championship game between South Carolina and Connecticut, which averaged 4.85 million viewers.

Caitlyn Clark's popularity could mean massive TV ratings.

Caitlin Clark’s Final Four Debut Could Smash TV Records

Caitlin Clark’s first Final Four could generate record TV viewership.
March 31, 2023

With Clark pouring in 41 points against the Gamecocks, ESPN came close to topping the two most-watched women’s college basketball games ever.  

Those were both national championship games, not semifinals, featuring Diana Taurasi and the legendary UConn dynasty.

Taurasi, Sue Bird, and Swin Cash drew 5.7 million viewers for their win over Oklahoma in 2002. 

Two years later, Taurasi’s Huskies nearly topped their record, drawing 5.6 million viewers for their win over Tennessee in the women’s final. Iowa vs South Carolina pulled nearly one million more viewers than the NBA All-Star game’s 4.6 million average viewers.

ESPN’s earlier telecast of LSU’s win over Virginia Tech also drew a big number. The telecast averaged 3.4 million viewers, up 57%, and was ESPN’s most-watched early semifinal on record.

ESPN’s twin telecast of Iowa-South Carolina and LSU-Virginia Tech Rank as the two most-watched women’s college basketball games ever on ESPN+.

Anticipation is building for ABC’s Sunday afternoon telecast of the women’s national championship game between Iowa and LSU, pitting Clark vs. Tigers star Angel Reese. The game will have broader distribution on ESPN’s sister Disney broadcast network ABC (3:30 pm ET).

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Hot Dog Maven George Shea on Chestnut Comeback and Investor Interest

George Shea runs a real estate PR firm and Major League Eating.
exclusive

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

Schaap calls his second Hot Dog Eating Contest July 4.
opinion

Caitlin Clark’s Media Supporters Pushing Harder Against Slights

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

WNBA Players Reject League’s First CBA Offer

Players felt the initial proposal wasn’t “entirely responsive” to their request.

Featured Today

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.
Seattle Rough & Tumble
June 28, 2025

Women’s Sports Bars Are on the Rise. Survival Isn’t Guaranteed

Some women’s sports bars are cashing in. Others are clawing for funding.

Paramount Settles Trump Suit Ahead of NFL Season, Skydance Merger

The deal likely allows the much larger Skydance merger deal to proceed.
June 24, 2025

Fever vs. Aces Draws 5th-Largest TV Audience of 2025 WNBA Season

ESPN will carry seven more Indiana Fever games this year.
Leo Messi
June 27, 2025

TNT, Club World Cup Ride Messi to Surprisingly Solid Debut Ratings

TNT Sports carries about a third of matches in the U.S.
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 23, 2025

NBA Finals Game 7 Is Most-Watched Since 2019, but Series Drops 9%

Game 7 drew 16.35 million viewers, the most-watched NBA game since 2019.
June 19, 2025

Pacers Force Game 7, Could Spark Big Ratings Boost for NBA Finals

Game 7 could boost NBA Finals ratings after a slow start this year.
June 17, 2025

Stanley Cup Final Delivers Drama but Struggles for Eyeballs in U.S.

U.S. viewership fell while Canadian audiences for the event rose slightly.
June 17, 2025

Streaming Tops Linear for First Time, Sports Still Key to TV’s Resilience

Streaming hits another critical milestone in an accelerating media transition.