On Monday, Iowa’s victory against LSU in the Elite Eight set a new record in women’s college basketball history, drawing 12.3 million viewers. This milestone surpassed the previous record of 9.9 million viewers from the NCAA championship game between the same two programs last season. According to ESPN, this game had the highest viewership for any college basketball game ever on their platforms, and it was the second-highest for any basketball game, college or NBA, since 2012. FanDuel also reported that Iowa-LSU was their biggest betting event ever for women’s sports.
The top-seeded Hawkeyes were once again led by the sensational Caitlin Clark, who poured in 41 points, 12 assists, and 7 rebounds in the game. Clark, the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer, played a crucial role in avenging last year’s title game loss to LSU. On the other side, LSU’s Angel Reese contributed 17 points and an impressive 20 rebounds in defeat. Reese, a second-team All-American, revealed postgame that she had received threats over the past year, showing the challenges and struggles she had to overcome.
The turmoil between the two teams began with a gesture by Reese towards Clark during LSU’s victory in last year’s title game. This incident fueled a series of unfortunate events and threats towards Reese, who remained resilient and unapologetically herself. Despite the challenges she faced, Reese stood strong and determined to leave her mark on the game.
Iowa will now face No. 3 seed UConn in the Final Four, a program with 11 national championships and coached by Basketball Hall of Famer Geno Auriemma. The highly anticipated matchup is set to take place at 9:30 p.m. ET on Friday at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland. The winner of this game will advance to the national championship game against either No. 1 seed South Carolina or No. 3 seed NC State on Sunday.
As the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer, Caitlin Clark surpassed the legendary Pete Maravich in March, solidifying her place in basketball history. With 3,900 career points heading into the Final Four, Clark has already announced her intention to enter the 2024 WNBA Draft, where she is expected to be the No. 1 overall pick by the Indiana Fever. Despite the challenges and doubts faced by her team earlier in the season, Clark’s hard work and determination have brought them to the brink of a national championship.
The historic game between Iowa and LSU not only broke records but also showcased the resilience and talent of the players involved. As the teams gear up for the Final Four and the ultimate prize of a national championship, the stage is set for more memorable moments and thrilling basketball action.