Women’s basketball is taking a big step in the right direction and has grown into a popular, watched sport over the past couple months. The March Madness tournament was a very successful time for the NCAAW in that it brought more views in the national championship game than the men’s for the first time in college history.
Iowa’s star player Caitlin Clark is inspiring a lot of upcoming women players by her range for the three-point shot and her talent every game. Clark averaged 31.6 points this year on 5.2 threes per game (both first in the league), leading her team to the championship game. Clark’s talent has brought a lot of attention to women’s basketball as she declared for the 2024 WNBA draft and was selected 1st overall by the Indiana Fever.
The matchups throughout March Madness were some of the most action-packed games in NCAAW history. Games like Iowa vs LSU and Iowa vs U Conn in the Final Four, and Iowa vs South Carolina in the Final brought a lot of attention. The fact that Iowa beat South Carolina in the Final Four last year, along with both teams having so many big-name players led to a record number of fans watching. According to ESPN, the national championship game between South Carolina and Iowa smashed ratings records after averaging nearly 19 million viewers. All teams will look to defeat South Carolina’s undefeated streak after it went 38-0 in the 2023-2024 season.
Social media has allowed players and coaches to interact with fans, brands, and NIL deals. Many players have taken control and inspiration to grow the women’s league and make a name for themself. There are now seven players with over 1 million followers each over social media to attract new fans to the game.
Despite the great leaps women’s basketball made this year, some challenges are still there. According to CBS Sports, as the 1st overall pick, Caitlin Clark is going to have a starting salary of $76,535 a year and earn roughly $338,000 over the four-year contract she signed with the Fever. This has been complained about over the past few seasons when comparing it to the men’s salaries, which are much higher. However, Clark is making a lot of money in endorsements.
Overall, the big percentage jump in views of women’s college basketball over the past couple years should inspire younger women to play basketball, get the attention they deserve, and get treated just as fairly as the men. If the players keep getting their name out to the people and perform at a very high level women’s basketball will continue to grow each and every year.
