• Loading stock data...
Monday, November 4, 2024
The Best Employers in Sports survey is open through Nov. 6 Learn More

Iowa’s Caitlin Clark Has Become Must-See TV

  • ESPN telecast of Iowa’s 97-83 victory over Louisville on Sunday averaged 2.5 million viewers. That’s more than any NBA telecast on ESPN this season.
  • Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes take on Aliyah Boston and the South Carolina Gamecocks Friday night in a game that could set ratings records.
Caitlin Clark
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Caitlin Clark has become one of the biggest TV attractions of March Madness.

Iowa’s sharp-shooting point guard is attracting millions of new viewers to the NCAA women’s basketball championship.

ESPN telecast of Iowa’s 97-83 victory over Louisville on Sunday averaged 2.5 million viewers. That’s more than any NBA telecast on ESPN this season, tweeted The Athletic. The game’s TV audience peaked at 2.7 million viewers, according to ESPN.

During the game, Clark became the first player in NCAA tournament history to post a 40-point triple-double, finishing with 41 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds.

TV viewers couldn’t get enough of Clark. 

ESPN’s viewership rose 94% from last year’s comparable Texas-Stanford game. According to Sports Media Watch, it marked the largest audience ever for a women’s tournament game outside of the Final Four. 

The network’s Elite Eight coverage averaged 2.2 million viewers over four games, up 43% from last year.

With Iowa heading to the Women’s Final Four, Clark is being hailed as one of the best basketball players in the world.

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith has called her the “Steph Curry of women’s basketball.”

On ESPN’s “First Take,” he hailed her as a “lethal sniper” with unlimited shooting range.

“I love watching her. She’s one of the greatest attractions in college basketball. She can pull up from the parking lot. We like that.”

Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes take on Aliyah Boston and the South Carolina Gamecocks Friday night on ESPN (9 p.m. ET) in a game that could set ratings records.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Embiid’s Clash With Reporter Sparks NBA Probe, Concerns for Sixers

The former NBA Most Valuable Player angrily confronts and shoves a local columnist.
Adam Schefter

Adam Schefter Uses Same Pirated NFL Clips As Everyone Else

ESPN’s NFL insider posted a video from an illegal stream Thursday night.
Oct 18, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (24) works around New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (30) during the first half of game four of the 2024 WNBA Finals at Target Center.

Unrivaled Expands While Keeping Seat Warm for Caitlin Clark

The women’s basketball league is adding six roster spots to bring the total to 36.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

Surprising Start to MLB’s Offseason

0:00

Featured Today

Vanderbilt Commodores fans head to the south end zone as the goal post is taken down by exuberant fans after beating No. 1 Alabama 40-35 at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024.
opinion

Something New in College Football This Year: Parity

Upsets, surprises. CFB is more fun on the field than the NFL.
Sep 28, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; GOP Presidential candidate Donald Trump waves flanked by former Georgia Bulldogs player Herschel Walker, recording art Kid Rock, professional golfer John Daily, Alabama senators Tommy Tuberville (R) and Katie Britt (R) during the second half of the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
November 1, 2024

Mission Swing State: College Football’s Political Advertising Battle

Trump, Harris, and the PACs that support them are utilizing the sport.
October 31, 2024

The Untapped Revenue ‘Powder Keg’ of Women’s NFL Fandom

There’s a “boatload” of money at stake for brands and the league.
Oct 19, 2024; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway (2) shakes hands while entering the locker room after a game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
October 28, 2024

NIL Director Is the Trendy New Job in College Sports. But the Role Is Chaos

Athletic departments nationwide are hiring for what’s become their most important position.

Sports Drive Fox Corp.’s Revenue Despite Election Ad Overload

The Fox Sports parent posted increases in revenue and earnings.
Fubo-TV
November 1, 2024

Fubo Reports 9% Subscriber Growth As Venu Sports Trial Looms

The sports-focused streamer grew revenue by 21%.
Tom Brady
November 4, 2024

Tom Brady Won’t Be Punished for Criticizing Packers-Lions Ejection

The “Brady Rules” faced their biggest test so far after Sunday’s broadcast.
Sponsored

World Series Delivers High-Demand Marquee Matchup

The hype around the World Series matchup drove ticket prices to record levels—but the Dodgers’ dominance quickly quieted the fervor.
October 31, 2024

World Series Delivers 7-Year Ratings Record, Marking MLB’s Big Comeback

Viewership of the five-game win by the Dodgers soared by 74% over last year.
October 31, 2024

Comcast’s Olympic Gold: Paris Games Spark Surge in Peacock Subscribers

Company revenue and Peacock subscriptions rise thanks to a big Olympics boost.
October 30, 2024

World Series Game 4 Draws 16.7M Viewers, Up 92% From 2023

The average audience of 16.7 million nearly doubles the comparable figure from last year.
October 30, 2024

Controversy, Championship Battles Keep F1 Viewers Tuned In

Lando Norris and Max Verstappen had a controversial encounter again Sunday.