LSU’s 102-85 win over Iowa to win the NCAA championship on Sunday afternoon garnered a record-breaking 9.9 million television viewers.
The title game is now the most-watched women’s college basketball game on record.
According to ESPN, which had broadcasting rights and aired the game on sister network ABC for the first time, the game peaked at 12.6 million viewers.
It marks more than double the audience for the 2022 final between South Carolina and UConn, which received 4.85 million viewers.
The previous viewership record for the women’s Final Four was the 5.68 million who watched the 2002 title game between UConn and Oklahoma.
Sunday’s game saw LSU win its first national title in program history, with coach Kim Mulkey earning her fourth after winning three at Baylor. The Tigers were led by reserve Jasmine Carson’s 22 points, including 21 in the first half on 7-for-7 shooting with five 3-pointers.
The biggest draw was Iowa star Caitlin Clark, who followed up consecutive 40-point outings with a 30-point, eight-assist performance in defeat.
–Field Level Media