Women’s basketball national championship was most watched basketball game at any level since 2019

The women’s national championship game on Sunday was the most-watched sporting event since 2019, excluding football and the Olympics.

Everyone watches women’s sports, and the Division I women’s national championship game on Sunday between Iowa and South Carolina put a big exclamation point on that statement: It was the most-watched basketball game — men’s or women’s, college or professional — since 2019.

The game averaged 18.7 million viewers and peaked at 24 million viewers. It was the most-watched sporting event since 2019, excluding football and the Olympics.

Supporters of women in sports have always known the potential existed for record-breaking viewership if only the product was given the platform on which to grow and thrive. Despite years of systemic inequity in coverage and investment, the women’s game is finally getting the recognition it deserves.

The NCAA “recently signed a new eight-year, $920 million TV deal with ESPN to cover its 40 other championships, including the women’s basketball tournament, which has seen a significant uptick in ratings and ticket sales. That new deal will pay the NCAA an average of $115 million per year starting next year, up from the current ESPN deal, which paid $45.2 million in 2023.” This was negotiated before the exponential increase in viewership during this year’s women’s March Madness Tournament.

The new media rights deal values women’s March Madness at $65 million annually, more than half of the $115 million yearly total ESPN will be paying. Thus, the women’s side of the game could become more lucrative for conferences and schools if the NCAA starts to pay school “units” for wins in the women’s tournament.

Around $200 million is up for grabs on the men’s side of March Madness this year because of a revenue distribution model set up to compensate conferences with teams in the NCAA Tournament. These payments are known as “units.” The conferences will receive payment for each win a team in their conference has in the tournament, but only for the men’s side of the game. Teams such as UConn, South Carolina and Iowa, which have dominated in recent years, will not receive any revenue distribution for their wins in women’s March Madness. South Carolina has won three national championships since 2017, but no revenue was distributed to the conference for the team’s stellar performances.

There are 132 units available this March Madness for the men’s side of the game in 2024, each valued at approximately $2 million.

However, with the new media rights deal, record-breaking viewership and elevated interest in the women’s side of the game, conferences could begin to see units distributed to them as early as 2025. This will put an impetus on schools to invest in their women’s basketball programs since there could be an extremely lucrative payout for them at the end of postseason play.

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Deebo Samuel reacts to South Carolina winning national championship over Iowa

After the South Carolina completed the perfect season with a win over Caitlin Clark and Iowa, a member of the 49ers took to Twitter to celebrate his alma mater’s national championship.

On Sunday, the South Carolina Gamecocks completed the perfect season with a win over Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes in the women’s college basketball national championship.

Following their historic win, South Carolina alum and San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel took to Twitter to celebrate the national championship.

Along with sharing gifs and praise for South Carolina coach Dawn Staley, Samuel also sent a message to his teammate and former Iowa tight end George Kittle.

Via @19problemz on Twitter:

Before the game, Samuel revealed he had a bet with Kittle. According to Samuel, the loser will have to a wear a jersey of the winning team to a game next season, meaning Kittle will have to wear a South Carolina jersey to game.

Behind double-figure scoring numbers from four different players, including Kamila Cardoso and freshman Tessa Johnson, the Gamecocks were able to hold off Caitlin Clark on the way to an 87-75 win in the national championship on Sunday afternoon.

With a win in the national championship, South Carolina completed the perfect season at 38-0.

This post originally appeared on Niners Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

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Angel Reese congratulates South Carolina on national title win

The Gamecocks won their second national title in three years on Sunday.

The [autotag]South Carolina Gamecocks[/autotag] Women’s basketball team took on [autotag]Caitlin Clark[/autotag] and the Iowa Hawkeyes in the National Championship and the Gamecocks came out on top 87-75.

The magical run of Clark and the Hawkeyes ended after beating the Tigers to advance to the Final Four. Meanwhile, South Carolina finished the season 38-0. The Indiana Hoosiers were the only team to keep the game close against the Gamecocks during the tournament. Indiana lost 79-75 in the Sweet 16 and gave Carolina a scare. Other than that, the Gamecocks won every game by double digits.

If it were not for Iowa beating Carolina last season, the Gamecocks would likely have gone 38-0 two years in a row. After the win this year, LSU star player [autotag]Angel Reese[/autotag] sent out a tweet congratulating [autotag]Dawn Staley[/autotag] and the Gamecocks on their terrific achievement.

What can be said about Staley that has not already been said? She has gone on a Geno Auriemma-esk run in the past two seasons and she is showing no signs of slowing down.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

How to buy Iowa vs. South Carolina NCAA Women’s National Championship game tickets

Want to watch South Carolina vs. Iowa in person? Limited tickets for the Women’s NCAA title game still remain for as little as $345.

After almost three weeks of madness, chalk reigns supreme in the women’s bracket as No. 1 South Carolina and No. 1 Iowa will play for a national championship.

Undefeated South Carolina dominated the second half and defeated No. 3 North Carolina State 78-59 to secure the first spot in the National Championship Game.

Iowa held on to win a roller coaster of a Final Four game against No. 3 UConn 71-69.

SHOP: South Carolina vs. Iowa tickets

The undisputed top team in the country in the Gamecocks taking on the consensus best player in the country in Caitlin Clark, what more could you want…besides a ticket?

The National Championship Game will be played in Cleveland, Ohio on Sunday, April 7 at 3:00 p.m. EDT, and limited tickets still remain.

Don’t miss the chance to see a champion crowned and a historic moment in Caitlin Clark’s final collegiate game.

At the time of publication, National Championship Game tickets were still available for as little as $345.

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop South Carolina vs. Iowa tickets” link=”https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/dexnDOY”]

How to buy Iowa vs. South Carolina NCAA Women’s National Championship game tickets

Want to watch South Carolina vs. Iowa in person? Limited tickets for the Women’s NCAA title game still remain for as little as $345.

After almost three weeks of madness, chalk reigns supreme in the women’s bracket as No. 1 South Carolina and No. 1 Iowa will play for a national championship.

Undefeated South Carolina dominated the second half and defeated No. 3 North Carolina State 78-59 to secure the first spot in the National Championship Game.

Iowa held on to win a roller coaster of a Final Four game against No. 3 UConn 71-69.

SHOP: South Carolina vs. Iowa tickets

The undisputed top team in the country in the Gamecocks taking on the consensus best player in the country in Caitlin Clark, what more could you want…besides a ticket?

The National Championship Game will be played in Cleveland, Ohio on Sunday, April 7 at 3:00 p.m. EDT, and limited tickets still remain.

Don’t miss the chance to see a champion crowned and a historic moment in Caitlin Clark’s final collegiate game.

At the time of publication, National Championship Game tickets were still available for as little as $345.

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop South Carolina vs. Iowa tickets” link=”https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/dexnDOY”]

Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo wins Dawn Staley Award as top guard

Add yet another honor for the freshman phenom.

[autotag]Hannah Hidalgo[/autotag] began her collegiate career when Notre Dame faced South Carolina in Paris to open this past season. That meant she got to make her debut with Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley watching from the opposite sideline. She aced her first exam, leading all scorers with 31 points in an Irish loss. Now, Staley gets to honor her.

Hidalgo has been named the winner of this year’s Dawn Staley Award, given to the country’s top guard. She unseats Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, who had won it each of the previous three seasons. She is the second Irish player to win the award after [autotag]Skylar Diggins[/autotag], who was the first honoree in 2013.

Staley, whose Gamecocks are in the Final Four trying to complete a perfect season, said the following about Hidalgo:

The Dawn Staley Award goes to the player who demonstrates exceptional skills, leadership, and performance at the guard position. Hannah Hidalgo’s court vision, passing ability, ball-handling and ability to create scoring opportunities for herself and her teammates combined with her relentless defense is unmatched. She is the embodiment of a two-way force on the basketball court and the essence of what the award represents. In a season where there are several deserving candidates Hannah has separated herself from the group.

Hidalgo will receive her award during a virtual ceremony April 11, and it’s great to know that she still is collecting hardware even with the Irish’s season over. That trophy case is gonna be awfully crowded by the time she’s done in South Bend.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Maddy McDaniel talks special relationship with South Carolina’s Dawn Staley

South Carolina commit Maddy McDaniel breaks down her relationship with head coach Dawn Staley.

Even though South Carolina got involved late in her recruitment, Maddy McDaniel forged a strong relationship with head coach Dawn Staley. It is a relationship that impressed the McDonald’s All-American.

McDaniel, a guard from Bishop McNamara High School (Upper Marlboro, Maryland), spoke ahead of Tuesday night’s McDonald’s All-American Game. She is a five-star prospect per ESPN and is part of a stellar recruiting class pulled in by Staley.

South Carolina will face North Carolina State on Friday night in the Final Four.

During Monday’s press conference for the McDonald’s All-American Game, McDaniel was asked by USA TODAY High School Sports about her relationship with Staley.

“Such a great person like surprisingly, they were one of the later schools to come on in my recruitment,” McDaniel said.

“But I felt like there was just like with our relationship she’s just so down to earth you wouldn’t think that.”

The girls game will take place on Tuesday night, April 2 at 6:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ESPN2.

Raven Johnson explained how Dawn Staley keeps South Carolina calm with the smoothest motto

“We have THE Dawn Staley…how can you sweat?”

South Carolina has won an impressive 35 games in a row, but their record hasn’t come without some close calls, including Friday’s thriller with Indiana. Sophomore guard Raven Johnson says the team doesn’t panic in those high-pressure situations because of two words: Dawn Staley.

We’ve been saying it all season long, but Dawn Staley is putting on a masterclass in coaching. After losing all five starters from last year’s team to the WNBA, many analysts didn’t think South Carolina would look as dominant as they have. But, despite the doubt, the Gamecocks have churned out an undefeated record — the only team to do so in college basketball. They have won 35 games and recently survived a nail-biter against Indiana that required a clutch 3-point bucket from Raven Johnson to propel South Carolina to the Elite 8.

Bree Hall, Johnson’s teammate and fellow 3-point specialist, was asked why the team continues to succeed in such high-stakes situations. Hall answered the question very transparently, and Johnson quickly followed up, adding a Dawn Staley-themed one-liner for the ages. Per Amanda Poole of WACH FOX 57, here’s what Johnson said that had the whole room, including Staley, giggling:

“We have THE Dawn Staley. I mean, when you have a coach like that, how can you sweat? If she don’t sweat, we don’t sweat.”

Dawn Staley rocked a fresh Louis Vuitton zip-up while coaching in the Sweet 16

Dawn Staley never misses.

Dawn Staley is always going to rock the freshest of fits, including a Louis Vuitton jacket that fans discovered costs a cool three thousand dollars.

One thing Dawn Staleys will do is dress for the occasion. She always looks really comfy, and her outfits appear to be handpicked by the fashion gods. Friday’s Sweet 16 matchup with Indiana was no different. Staley appeared courtside rocking several different shades of blue and an awesome patterned jacket.

Hoops fans quickly learned about the outfit thanks to a terrific tweet by The Washington Post’s Kareem Copeland. Moments later, one fan had already combed the internet to find the jacket—a Louis Vuitton hybrid leather and cotton “Damier Blouson” worth $3,150. WHEW.

Remembering USC women’s basketball’s last Sweet 16 game — and victory — against Dawn Staley’s mentor

There are a lot of amazing backstories attached to USC’s last Sweet 16 game, played 30 years ago against Virginia.

The workings of life and history are remarkable in their ability to create all sorts of connections and crosscurrents we marvel at decades later. Such is the case with USC women’s basketball’s last Sweet 16 game — and win — in the Women’s NCAA Tournament. Dawn Staley didn’t play in that game against USC, but her mentor, Debbie Ryan, coached against the Trojans.

Dawn Staley played at Virginia from 1988 through 1992, so she was gone by the time USC faced UVA in the 1994 Sweet 16. However, Staley’s coach — Debbie Ryan — was still there, leading Virginia through a very prosperous period. The apex of Ryan’s very successful tenure in Charlottesville came when Staley was the team’s unquestioned leader. Virginia made three straight Final Fours from 1990 through 1992, reaching the national championship game once. From 1990 through 1996, Virginia made the Elite Eight six out of seven times.

1994 is the one year UVA didn’t make the Elite Eight in that seven-season span. USC was the team which denied the Cavaliers, 85-66.

This was more than just a win over Dawn Staley’s coach, though. Tina Thompson, who helped USC win this game and move to the 1994 Elite Eight, became Virginia’s head coach over a decade later.

Debbie Ryan coached Virginia through 2011, when a woman named Joanne Boyle took over. Boyle left Cal, where she had been coaching the Golden Bears. The woman who succeeded her in Berkeley: Lindsay Gottlieb.

There’s quite a lot of women’s college basketball history attached to USC’s last Sweet 16 game and victory. Thirty years later, the Trojans finally return to the Sweet 16 with Gottlieb leading the way.

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