The Women’s NCAA Championship not only showcased intense competition but also set a new record in viewership, signalling a broader shift in the perception and popularity of women’s sports.
In a recent showcase of major sporting events, Associated Press photographers captured compelling moments across different sports. At the Women’s NCAA Championship game, Iowa’s Caitlin Clark led her team against South Carolina. Despite Clark’s performance, South Carolina, coached by Dawn Staley, secured the victory. This win was particularly significant as it marked their second consecutive championship win in this tournament.
In other sports, during an NBA game, LeBron James connected with fans, notably giving a young fan a fist bump at the game against the Washington Wizards. In Major League Baseball, Julio Rodríguez of the Seattle Mariners made a remarkable leaping catch in a match against the Cleveland Guardians. Football star Kylian Mbappé continued his scoring spree for Paris Saint-Germain, while the Canada women’s soccer team triumphed over Brazil in a penalty shootout at the SheBelieves Cup. In Formula 1, Max Verstappen extended his dominance with another victory in Japan.
Additionally, a historic moment emerged in women’s college basketball as the Women’s NCAA championship game, featuring South Carolina versus Iowa, attracted an unprecedented viewership. With 18.9 million average viewers on ABC and ESPN, this game surpassed the men’s final in viewership, drawing a peak of 24.1 million viewers during the last 15 minutes. This event not only set a new viewership record for women’s sports outside the Olympics but also signaled the increasing popularity and engagement with women’s basketball. As Caitlin Clark moves to the WNBA, there is much anticipation about the future influence and growth of women’s college basketball, bolstered by the recent surge in media exposure and audience engagement.
