This year, 24.1 million people watched the Women’s Basketball National Championship. Not only is that a 15 million viewer increase from 2023, but it had 10 million more viewers than the men’s game. The fact that Iowa vs. South Carolina in a women’s game had higher viewership than a UConn vs. Purdue men’s matchup would’ve been unheard of last year. Why did this happen? Why is it that now, people are finally starting to see the talent on women’s courts? Thanks to some of its college superstars, women’s basketball is more popular than ever.
Caitlin Clark, JuJu Watkins, Cameron Brink, Paige Bueckers, and Angel Reese are just some names that single-handedly popularized the sport. These athletes have compelling stories that make them extremely fun to watch. They are also much more than just athletes – they are celebrities. According to Business Insider, Caitlin Clark has made over 3 million dollars in partnership deals. NIL deals for these college athletes are just the start, as women’s sports are projected to hit a revenue of $1.28 billion in 2024, a 300% increase from its estimation. Now that it’s become clear that women’s basketball is a true money-making business, let’s take a deeper dive into what it’s like on a college campus with these stars being more than just basketball players.
Morgan Kerndt, a freshman at the University of Iowa and DHS alumna played all four years of her high school career on the girl’s basketball team at Deerfield. Attending a college where her favorite sport is developing into a national phenomenon creates so much meaning. Kerndt told us about a game she attended where “Caitlin Clark broke the women’s scoring record and it was amazing! The arena was filled with excitement.” But the real question arises: how do the women’s games compare to the men’s? When asked, Kerndt responded, “Stadium full”. She then elaborated that “Women’s games are sold out to the square inch of the stadium while you could go and get a ticket for men’s the day of. This difficulty in getting a spot to see greatness proves just how much the sport has changed.” Kerndt continued, “It is amazing how much Clark and the rest of the team have changed the view of women’s sports. There are people of all ages and genders going to support them, which is something that didn’t exist before we had them.” The togetherness within the stadium allows for a feeling of, “everyone is welcome” to witness history.
Because Caitlin Clark was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa, an athlete like Clark who stays loyal to her home state is hard not to like. The popularity doesn’t stop at the University of Iowa, admiration for her basketball game has spread its way all over the United States. Due to her immense talent and personality on and off the court, Clark was drafted 1st overall in the WNBA draft by the Indianapolis Fever. The Fever organization have already anticipated the phenom that is Caitlin Clark, looking into bigger stadiums with expanded seating occupancy. The Fever isn’t the only team excited to have their new stars, as teams like the Los Angeles Sparks are already preparing for their hopeful superstar Cameron Brink, a senior at Stanford who was selected 2nd overall.
LeBron James, 20-time all-star and current Los Angeles Lakers player, had to give props to Clark. James said, “Congrats Caitlin Clark on becoming the all-time leading scorer!” Although hearing an appreciation post from one of the basketball greats might have been enough, it wasn’t. President Joe Biden reached out to Clark and also congratulated her, “on making history.” As society starts to recognize the athletic ability of women like Clark, The buzz around women’s basketball continues to grow.
A remarkable increase in viewership of the championship, a new outlook on campuses around the country, and celebrities paying their respects to these athletes give women the opportunity to finally show the world what they are capable of in the world of sports. Girls are becoming inspired by these women to change the world. Clark is just one of many who are getting the respect they should have gotten years ago. If this continues, hopefully athletes like Reese, Watkins, Brink, and Clark can become household names not for being great women’s basketball players, but simply great basketball players.
