The 2023 Women’s College World Series championship series, which culminated in Oklahoma’s third consecutive title, drew an average of 1.6 million viewers, ESPN announced.
That’s just slightly less than series drew last year (though it extended three games) — and the same as the baseball World Series drew.
- The first game of the two-game final between the Sooners and FSU drew 1.3 million viewers, peaking at 1.5 million. The numbers were impressive, given the game started late due to weather issues.
- The second averaged 1.9 million, peaking at 2.3 million viewers — making it the most-watched softball game since 2015, according to Sports Media Watch.
The overall tournament reportedly averaged 1.1 million viewers, which was a little more than last year’s WCWS notched.
The numbers demonstrate a consistently strong showing for softball’s biggest domestic event, despite going up against other championships like the NBA and Stanley Cup Finals. It’s also one of the only women’s sport that brings in as much, if not more, viewership than its male counterpart.
The viewership could translate directly to revenue for the NCAA, which is gearing up to renegotiate its championship media rights contract with ESPN. The governing body receives an average of $34 million yearly for 29 championships, including softball and the women’s basketball tournament.
But given that estimates suggest women’s March Madness could be worth $81-$112 million a year, softball could also garner a major increase.
The NCAA must decide the most savvy way to market its marquee women’s championship media products.
