"Record Viewership: NCAA Basketball Championships Break Viewing Records"

The NCAA women’s basketball national championship game between South Carolina and Iowa set a new viewership record, drawing in 18.7 million views with a peak of 24 million viewers, marking an 89% increase from last year and a 285% increase from 2022. South Carolina's win over Iowa was the most-watched sporting event outside of American football and the Olympics since 2019. The game featured South Carolina's quest to remain undefeated and win its second championship in three seasons, as well as Caitlin Clark's attempt to end her collegiate career with a national championship. Despite Clark's impressive 30-point performance, Iowa fell short, but her impact on the sport was acknowledged by South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley, who credited her with lifting up women's basketball.