For too long, Women’s college basketball has been overshadowed by the Men’s March Madness tournament. Despite incredible talent, athleticism, and thrilling competitions, it struggles to get the recognition it deserves. This past women’s college basketball season has given us the perfect opportunity to break this cycle and give women’s college basketball the attention it is worthy of.
This Women’s College basketball season has previewed incredible athletes like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers, and has highlighted thrilling competitions and amazing games. Yet, media coverage and viewership has not been rising to the levels that it should be compared to the men’s games. For decades, people have spoken on how male athletes are better known and that male games are more interesting. That narrative is now being put to rest. Collegiate athletes like Clark are much better known than any male collegiate athletes, and increasing viewership ratings demonstrate that viewers find women’s games are as competitive if not more.
“People are more excited about the women’s side than the men’s side.” Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball player and current superstar Caitlin Clark said in a pre-game interview.
The money is speaking for itself. According to DailyMail.uk, the top three mens and womens college basketball NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) earners are Flau’Jae Johnson third with 1.1 million, Angel Reese second with 1.8 million dollars, and Caitlin Clark first with 3.1 million dollars. Among all the men and women collegiate players, women are gaining the most money for their popularity, which shows the increase in the popularity of Women’s college basketball.
True, men’s college basketball has history, flash and insane viewership numbers, but viewership for the Women’s game is rising to incredible unheard of levels. According to ESPN, the women’s NCAA game on April 6 between the UCONN (University Of Connecticut) Huskies and the Iowa Hawkeyes was able to accumulate 18.9 million average viewers, shattering the record for most viewers for a women’s basketball game. The game was also able to gain more viewers than the entire 2023 NBA finals, and became the most watched ESPN (mens or womens) college basketball broadcast ever.
Women’s basketball skills, strategy, and play rivals that of the men’s game. With it’s current pace and trajectory, it could exceed unprecedented records, and put women’s sports as a whole into the spotlight.
Change is happening for the better, and we must adapt. Tune into Women’s College Basketball Games, share highlights with your friends and families, and support broadcasts. Women’s college basketball has become a powerhouse for entertainment and is just waiting to be fully recognized by viewers like you. Together, let’s champion these phenomenal athletes and elevate women’s college basketball to the level it deserves.
