RealGM

Figured this deserved it's own thread.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/mollybohannon/2024/04/02/iowa-lsu-womens-game-draws-12-million-viewers-more-than-last-years-world-series-and-nba-finals-averages/?sh=185e6dc625bb

Women's college ball out drawing the world series and NBA finals. That is insane. Is women's basketball now here to stay in the mainstream?

Also outdrew every regular season college football game

It's 80% about Caitlin though, although Womens BB has greatly improved she's the show

Wow. I still feel like she shouldn't go to the WNBA instead focus on her self.

it was a really fun game to watch until Iowa started to really run with the lead but the first half was incredibly competitive and both stars were showing out

earlier this year i went to a woman's college basketball game in person and even that was great fun. I've been to NBA games and honestly as a heterosexual male I found the woman's game more enjoyable. I will be attending more WNBA games (assuming that I don't get shot at when going because the arena in DC is in one hell of a neighborhood)

Both Iowa vs. LSU and UCONN vs. USC were great matchups with super talented players in Clark, Reese, Buekers and Watkins.

It was a great day for Womens college hoops.

Pelon chingon wrote:Wow. I still feel like she shouldn't go to the WNBA instead focus on her self.

Why not? She’s helped the women’s college game grow, why can’t she do the same at the next level? People aren’t tuning into Iowa games for the team, they’re tuning in to watch Clarke.

With Bueckers, Reese, Bueckers, and Watkins eventually following her. The next crop of WNBA athletes are going to help grow the league immensely.

The women’s game is in good hands.

I wonder how well Friday's game will do.

It's still CC. It's the Final 4, and it's Paige.

I've made fun of the WNBA many times in my past but I was totally glued to the Iowa-LSU game. I will also be watching their next game. Happy to see the product trending up.

Womens college ball has a huge following. Anytime Angel Reese is playing almost everyone I know is tuning. It's good to see them getting some shine.

Pelon chingon wrote:Wow. I still feel like she shouldn't go to the WNBA instead focus on her self.

What do you mean focus on herself?

Her attention comes from playing basketball. You think people will care if she's no longer playing basketball?

JustBuzzin wrote:

Pelon chingon wrote:Wow. I still feel like she shouldn't go to the WNBA instead focus on her self.

What do you mean focus on herself?

Her attention comes from playing basketball. You think people will care if she's no longer playing basketball?

She should do the big 3 thing for starters. Moot point tho she's going to the WNBA so best of luck to her hopefully she can rise above that toxic environment.

Watching woman's college ball makes me miss the times where high level NBA prospects would stay in college for more than a year. I get and understand why someone would obviously want to go straight to the league for the pay day, but man it makes it so much more fun to watch March Madness when teams can form full rivalries with generations of players and have a chance to come back next year to beat the other team. Reese vs Clark was great.

Drakeem wrote:Watching woman's college ball makes me miss the times where high level NBA prospects would stay in college for more than a year. I get and understand why someone would obviously want to go straight to the league for the pay day, but man it makes it so much more fun to watch March Madness when teams can form full rivalries with generations of players and have a chance to come back next year to beat the other team. Reese vs Clark was great.

It was so much better than watching an NBA game. Hardly any complaining, players aren't constantly falling, no flops. It was pure basketball.

Drakeem wrote:Watching woman's college ball makes me miss the times where high level NBA prospects would stay in college for more than a year. I get and understand why someone would obviously want to go straight to the league for the pay day, but man it makes it so much more fun to watch March Madness when teams can form full rivalries with generations of players and have a chance to come back next year to beat the other team. Reese vs Clark was great.

let them declare for the draft and then play in the NCAA for minimum two or three years.

Ambrose wrote:

Drakeem wrote:Watching woman's college ball makes me miss the times where high level NBA prospects would stay in college for more than a year. I get and understand why someone would obviously want to go straight to the league for the pay day, but man it makes it so much more fun to watch March Madness when teams can form full rivalries with generations of players and have a chance to come back next year to beat the other team. Reese vs Clark was great.

It was so much better than watching an NBA game. Hardly any complaining, players aren't constantly falling, no flops. It was pure basketball.

I don't agree. The lack of talent is just too glaring in college hoops.

Ambrose wrote:

Drakeem wrote:Watching woman's college ball makes me miss the times where high level NBA prospects would stay in college for more than a year. I get and understand why someone would obviously want to go straight to the league for the pay day, but man it makes it so much more fun to watch March Madness when teams can form full rivalries with generations of players and have a chance to come back next year to beat the other team. Reese vs Clark was great.

It was so much better than watching an NBA game. Hardly any complaining, players aren't constantly falling, no flops. It was pure basketball.

I think you just like how the players look better. What you said was utter bullshyt. Caitlands friggin daddy thinks she complains too much and the LSU team is no better. Dude....

I saw the claim of all the sporting events that it outdrew, but ive been skeptical of that stuff forever.

How is it tracked? With all the illegal streaming these days along with the antennae use with aired shows, whats the accuracy?

Just a shame the Sparks only have the 2nd pick this year. A generational woman going to the WNBA and the team she will display her talents on is with…Indiana.

Ew. Freaking, ew. Clark with LA would have been ratings city.

Marrrcuss wrote:

Ambrose wrote:

Drakeem wrote:Watching woman's college ball makes me miss the times where high level NBA prospects would stay in college for more than a year. I get and understand why someone would obviously want to go straight to the league for the pay day, but man it makes it so much more fun to watch March Madness when teams can form full rivalries with generations of players and have a chance to come back next year to beat the other team. Reese vs Clark was great.

It was so much better than watching an NBA game. Hardly any complaining, players aren't constantly falling, no flops. It was pure basketball.

I think you just like how the players look better. What you said was utter bullshyt. Caitlands friggin daddy thinks she complains too much and the LSU team is no better. Dude....

I've seen the clips of her dad, and I agreed with him in those situations. In the Iowa/LSU game, there's no way you can honestly say that she complains 1/100 of the way NBA players do.

Marrrcuss wrote:I saw the claim of all the sporting events that it outdrew, but ive been skeptical of that stuff forever.

How is it tracked? With all the illegal streaming these days along with the antennae use with aired shows, whats the accuracy?

I'm pretty sure that this game was also illegally streamed by some, as well. Being that it was on ESPN (not everyone has cable TV these days, waste of money and too many unnecessary channels).

So the numbers even out either way.

Despite all of that, this was a highly viewed game.
Surpassed the alltime record for womens hoops.

The old record was the 1983 Womens championship game. USC Trojans upset the defending champs La Tech Lady Bulldogs.
The 1983 game was on CBS, as well. Free TV channel (non cable TV). Not everyone had cable TV back in the '80s, so that says a lot.

USC had Cheryl Miller (Reggie's sister) and LaTech has Kim Mulkey (Baylor and now LSU coach) playing in that game.