Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes have achieved a massive victory and left their stamp on the history of the women’s NCAA Tournament by setting yet another incredible record.
With a resounding 91-65 victory over Holy Cross on Saturday, they not only cemented their lead but also captured the attention of spectators throughout the country, bringing in an unprecedented 3.23 million viewers on ABC, according to Nielsen.
Except for the prestigious Final Four and championship contests, this game is the most watched in the history of the women’s tournament due to its astounding popularity, surpassing all prior first-round matchups, including the thrilling Elite Eight meeting between Iowa and Louisville last year.
Iowa and spectators
The Iowa Hawkeyes are drawing record numbers of spectators during this season of high attendance; this year alone, they have had over 3 million people watch three of their games.
The Hawkeyes’ games have regularly attracted an amazing average of 2.27 million viewers across major network platforms like ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox. The focus on Iowa only gets stronger as excitement mounts for their regional semifinal matchup versus Colorado this Saturday, which is scheduled to air on ABC.
The tournament is still gaining steam; news18 reports that the first round of play reached a historic milestone with an astounding 1.5 billion minutes viewed overall across broadcast and streaming platforms—a phenomenal 70% increase from the previous year. It’s proof of the enduring appeal of women’s hoops and the indisputable charm of groups like the Iowa Hawkeyes.
In the meantime, LSU, the reigning champions, dominated Rice on Friday, taking center stage in front of an average of 762,400 people on ESPN. March Madness continues to captivate and excite fans worldwide, and this remarkable turnout established a historic milestone as it became the most-watched weekday first-round game ever recorded.
Cover Photo: IG
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