In a thrilling showdown at the women's Final Four, Iowa's nail-biting victory over UConn has made history as the most-viewed women's basketball game ever. The game, which was broadcasted on ESPN, drew an impressive average of 14.2 million viewers, capturing the attention of basketball enthusiasts across the nation.

This record-breaking viewership surpasses the previous milestone set during last Monday's Elite Eight game between Iowa and LSU, which garnered an audience of 12.3 million viewers. Notably, this accomplishment also marks the highest viewership for any ESPN basketball broadcast, solidifying women's basketball as a force to be reckoned with in the sporting world.

While the NBA has traditionally drawn large audiences, it is worth noting that the Game 7 of the 2018 Eastern Conference finals between Cleveland and Boston, attracting 13.51 million viewers, was ESPN's most-watched basketball game up until now. The Iowa-UConn clash now stands as one of the most-viewed games in any sport, second only to college football and the NFL in recent years.

Moreover, this monumental event is expected to secure a position among the top 50 primetime telecasts of 2024. With a peak audience of 17 million viewers, the Iowa game would have claimed the 32nd position on last year's list, demonstrating its immense popularity and impact on viewers.

In addition to this groundbreaking achievement, the Hawkeyes' game stands as ESPN's second-highest non-football broadcast audience. The only event to surpass it was the United States-Portugal match during the 2014 men's World Cup group play, which clocked in at an average of 18.22 million viewers.

Looking ahead, Iowa will face off against South Carolina in the national championship on Sunday afternoon, set to be broadcasted on ABC. The matchup promises to be a must-watch event, especially after South Carolina's dominant victory over North Carolina State, drawing an average of 7.1 million viewers. This ranks as the third most-watched women's national semifinal since record-keeping began in 1992.

Friday's doubleheader, consisting of the Iowa-UConn and South Carolina-North Carolina State games, recorded an average viewership of 10.8 million, reflecting a remarkable 138% increase compared to the previous year.

As basketball fans eagerly anticipate the ultimate showdown in the women's national championship, Iowa's historic win over UConn has undoubtedly solidified its place in sports history, captivating millions of viewers and reinforcing the growing popularity of women's basketball on a national scale.