Caitlin Clark, Iowa vs. UConn Sets ESPN Record as Most Watched Basketball Game Ever

Andrew PetersApril 6, 2024

Steph Chambers/Getty Images

An exciting Final Four matchup between No. 1 Iowa and No. 3 UConn now holds the record for the most-watched basketball game ever on ESPN.

Per ESPN PR, Friday’s game between the Hawkeyes and Huskies was the most watched NCAA women’s basketball game ever with 14.2 million viewers on ESPN and peaking at 17 million viewers. It was also the highest audience for any basketball game on record at ESPN and the most-watched college event ever on ESPN+.

ESPN also noted that it was the network’s second-best non-football telecast ever.

ESPN PR @ESPNPRFriday night’s 2024 #WFinalFour matchup between No. 1 @IowaWBB & No. 3 @UConnWBB was the MOST-WATCHED #NCAAWBB game EVER 🎉

🏀 Peak 17M viewers
🏀 Highest audience for ANY BASKETBALL GAME on record
🏀 Iowa-UConn was the most-viewed college event ever on ESPN+#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/P8BUtRyUxH

Friday’s viewership numbers were better than every 2023 World Series game, every 2023 NBA Finals game and several other major sporting events.

Richard Deitsch @richarddeitschTo put this in perspective. This game tops…

• Every World Series game last year.
• Every NBA Finals game last year.
• Every Daytona 500 since 2013.
• Every Masters final round viewership since 2013.
• All but five CFB games in 2023. https://t.co/i7e3G7DWSK

The record-setting broadcast comes after Iowa’s Elite Eight matchup with No. 3 LSU shattered the record for the most-watched women’s college basketball game with 12.3 million viewers.

It’s no surprise to see Friday’s matchup draw historic viewership. It had everything a college basketball fan would want in a game, from star power with Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers to a dramatic finish.

The two teams traded runs late in the game, with the Huskies leading by a big margin in the third quarter before trailing by double digits in the fourth quarter. UConn crawled back into the game to make things interesting down the stretch and came within one point with just seconds remaining.

A costly, controversial offensive foul on UConn’s Aaliyah Edwards eliminated the Huskies’ attempt at a game-winning shot, and Iowa secured a rebound after Clark missed a free throw at the other end to seal the game.

Now, Iowa will face No. 1 South Carolina in the championship game on Sunday. The undefeated Gamecocks are looking to win their second championship in three years while Clark is aiming to end her career with a victory.

With another exciting matchup on deck, seeing more historic viewership numbers won’t be a surprise.