Women's NCAA title game beats men's final viewer numbers

[BlueSky3]

Source: Axios

For the first time in NCAA history, the women's basketball final garnered more views than the men's championship game, per data from Nielsen.

The big picture: The breakthrough numbers come as Iowa guard Caitlin Clark is driving unprecedented momentum around women's sports, Axios' Sara Fischer and Noah Bressner report.
By the numbers: The women's championship gathered nearly 18.9 million views, compared to 14.8 million for the men's final, according to Nielsen.

Read more: https://www.axios.com/2024/04/09/ncaa-womens-basketball-championship-views

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Caitlin Clark is amazing to watch. I hope there are others who will follow in her footsteps.

[lonely bird]

1. Good!

Imo, which means nothing, men’s college basketball has become a joke.

[BlueSky3]

2. I can remember

Last edited Wed Apr 10, 2024, 09:30 AM - Edit history (1)

this time last year when there was someone on DU saying “people aren’t interested in watching women’s basketball” Guess they were wrong.

People have just opened their eyes to women’s basketball and started following it.

[Elessar Zappa]

5. I like men's college basketball.

Women’s too.

[hueymahl]

3. Impressive!

Love to see it

[Old Crank]

4. I have to wonder

If the combination of one and done players at the top men's program along with not being familiar with the teams contributed to that. For me I didn't bother to watch unless my school were playing.
Not to take anything from the women's stellar athletic achievements.
The women's game has players you get to know for more than half a season. You had a compelling story line. It will be interesting to see how this unfolds. Now that the women have shown box office appeal more money should flow to the programs helping their development.

[maxsolomon]

6. Hype works.

The game itself was underwhelming, as was Clark's performance. SC dominated.

[BlueSky3]

7. Caitlin Clark still scored

27 points. SC did a good job of containing her and was the better team. It was a good game.

[maxsolomon]

8. Kind of like what UConn did to Zach Edey

Zach got his, but no one else did.

At the end, Clark started forcing it &/or ran out of gas. SC had some tough, tall players.

[BuddhaGirl]

11. Aww shoot...

don't be a Debbie Downer. j/k

It's still wonderful that more attention is being paid to the women's game. Finally, and as it should be.

Clark is an phenomenal player.

[BuddhaGirl]

12. Agree SC did a good job

I enjoyed the game very much. Such fun to watch Clark!

[pstokely]

9. although the men's was only on cable

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but not much lower than last year's that was on OTA TV

[CTyankee]

10. The UCONN women and coach Geno Auriemma have been inspirational and wonderful.

We love Geno and the UCONN teams. One of the things I love about living here...

[Amishman]

13. A stinker of a men's matchup also was probably a factor

UConn went in as a very heavy favorite against Purdue, and was expected to handily win back-to-back titles.

Repeat champs are not popular, especially when they come in as a favorite.

No other big fan base programs in the final four also contributed to the disinterest on the men's side.