Women's March Madness has taken the basketball world by storm, surpassing expectations and setting new records with each game. The tournament's hype, fueled by Iowa's standout guard Caitlin Clark, has propelled women's college basketball to new heights, captivating audiences and breaking viewership records! 💪🏼

Last Friday's highly anticipated matchup between Iowa and UConn drew an astonishing 14.2 million viewers, peaking at 17 million, making it the most-watched basketball game at any level on ESPN and the most-watched women's hoops game in the past 30 years. This game even outperformed nearly all regular-season college football games this season, solidifying its place as ESPN's second-most watched non-football telecast ever!

This remarkable viewership milestone comes on the heels of the previous record-breaking game between Iowa and LSU, which drew 12.3 million viewers and surpassed the viewership of the 2023 MLB World Series' winning game and most of last year's NBA Finals games.

The Clark Effect has become a defining trend throughout the season, with Caitlin Clark emerging as the driving force behind the surge in viewership. Known as the most recognizable athlete in all of March Madness, Clark has been the star attraction in every round of the women's tournament, drawing in record-breaking crowds. Her presence has been instrumental in attracting viewers, with the first-round game garnering 3.2 million viewers and the second-round game reaching 4.9 million.

The impact of Clark's star power was evident in the viewership numbers, with the Iowa-UConn game overshadowing the other semifinal between South Carolina and NC State, which averaged 7.1 million viewers. Clark's performance on the court has not only elevated her team but also elevated the entire women's basketball landscape, bringing unprecedented attention and excitement to the sport.

2024 Womens March Madness has captivated audiences and broken records. It is clear that the future of women's college basketball is brighter than ever. With players like Caitlin Clark, JuJu Watkins, Paige Bueckers, Cameron Brink and Angel Reese leading the charge, this WNBA draft will be one of the most highly anticipated and the sport is poised for even greater success and recognition on a national scale