Sunday’s women’s national championship game between Iowa and South Carolina shattered several viewership records, registering 18.7 million viewers on average with a max of 24 million.
After the numbers were announced, Caitlin Clark, Iowa’s transcendent star, celebrated the accomplishment on X/Twitter. As she did, others were recognizing Clark for all she did to grow the sport.
“Highest rated basketball game since 2019 (NBA included). Highest rated women’s basketball game since 1992. Most watch sporting event since 2019 (excluding football and Olympics) Congrats Dawn. Congrats Caitlin. Congrats Women!” said Fox Sports’ Emmanuel Acho.
“Build the statue (not kidding) before the ceremony to retire her number next year,” one Iowa fan added.
“The NCAA should give her a ring with this number on it,” said longtime journalist J.A. Adande.
“Michael Jordan. Tiger Woods. Those are the only two that come to mind. Bigger than the sport. Made the sport. The most ironic part was, she built her brand by not trying to build her brand. Her play and her persona made her iconic, and it was magnetic to all,” another fan said.
“NCAA and ESPN should cut you a check for this dollar amount,” chimed in Chris Brockman of The Rich Eisen Show.
Clark is an icon whose full impact on the sport of women’s college basketball can’t be fully quantified. South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley thanked the future WNBA No. 1 overall pick for her many contributions following yesterday’s game, and she doubled down on that praise tonight before the men’s national championship game.
“Caitlin Clark gave our team an opportunity to play in front of over 18 million people,” Staley said, via CBS Sports. “So they tuned in to watch her. But at the same time, just like when we recruit, when you go see that No. 1 recruit, there are going to be 10 to 12 other young people that are going to be playing in that game.”
Staley also expressed confidence that Clark will continue to draw in eyeballs as she makes her way to the professional level.
“I thought and still think that Caitlin Clark almost single-handedly has elevated our game,” Staley said. “And I hope that—and I said this yesterday—as she moves onto the WNBA, she elevates the WNBA.”