By Darius Green / Staff Writer

In a groundbreaking shift in collegiate sports viewership, women’s college basketball has surged to unprecedented heights in popularity, setting new records and drawing in a broader audience than ever before.

According to Nielsen ratings, the 2024 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship game between South Carolina and Iowa captured the attention of 18.87 million viewers, making it the most-watched women’s basketball game on record. This historic event also surpassed all basketball games, men’s or women’s, college or professional, since 2019, with the men’s final attracting 14.82 million viewers in comparison.

This surge in viewership can be attributed to a combination of factors, including an effective rebranding of the women’s tournament in 2022 and heightened public awareness and enthusiasm for women’s sports. According to a report by Dow Jones, the rebranding effort seems to have been a catalyst for increased interest, as seen in the dramatic 87 percent increase in viewership for the Final Four games in 2023, which averaged 6.5 million viewers, culminating in a record-breaking 9.9 million for the national championship game.

The success on the court has been mirrored by enthusiastic responses from fans across the nation. Jayson Williams, a student at Missouri Valley College, expressed his admiration for the level of competition this year, particularly praising standout players like Caitlyn Clark and freshman Mikayla Williams from LSU.

“They were very good this year and competitive,” he said. “What more can you ask for?”

The impact of these athletes and the games they play has resonated well beyond the traditional basketball fanbase.

Wyatt Nordean, a football player at MVC, noted that the caliber of play has been outstanding in women’s college hoops.

“The females have been so competitive that I forgot the boys were playing,” he said. “The fact that most of them are heading to WNBA makes it more exciting.”

A recent survey conducted among MVC students about their knowledge of this year’s college basketball season revealed that 70% of respondents were more familiar with women’s basketball, specifically highlighting Caitlyn Clark as a key figure due to her scoring prowess.