The Iowa Hawkeyes are no stranger to entering unchartered territory and they have done so once again. Their Final Four victory over UConn once again set the gold standard for basketball.
Iowa and UConn battled to a 71-69 Hawkeyes’ victory that punched their ticket to a second national championship game in a row, and they did so in front of one of the biggest audiences ever.
The stadium was sold out, but even more eyes watched on TV. The Iowa Hawkeyes and UConn Huskies’ Final Four matchup set the record for ESPN’s most-viewed basketball game — men’s, women’s, NBA or WNBA — of all time with 14.2 million viewers.
OMG 14.2 million people watched Iowa-UConn, per ESPN 🤯🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/wY5HxJBn4L
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) April 6, 2024
Nicole Auerbach of The Athletic reported this game was ESPN’s second-largest audience for a non-football game in network history.
Iowa-UConn WBB is ESPN’s most-viewed basketball game … ever. And it’s ESPN’s second-biggest audience for a non-football game … ever.
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) April 6, 2024
These monster numbers continue to demonstrate the massive growth that the women’s college basketball game is experiencing. Fans are flocking to arenas and countless eyes are tuning in on TV to see stars take the court time and time again.
While this game has shattered every record, the national championship on Sunday afternoon against the South Carolina Gamecocks will be broadcast on ABC. It could elevate every record to an untouchable level.
Nonetheless, the Iowa Hawkeyes have been a draw for fans nationwide to tune in and see them play. The numbers they are putting up for ratings this postseason continue to prove so.
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