In a thrilling championship game, Iowa's Caitlin Clark and the Hawkeyes shattered TV viewership records for women's college basketball not just once, but three times in the span of a week. The NCAA championship final, where the Hawkeyes faced undefeated South Carolina, drew an astounding 18.7 million viewers, according to ESPN. The broadcast reached its peak with a whopping 24 million viewers, marking the largest audience for any basketball game since 2019.

Iowa's journey to the championship game was nothing short of remarkable. Their Final Four victory over UConn, which stirred up controversy, had set the previous record for the most-watched women's college basketball game, attracting 14.2 million viewers. Prior to that, the Hawkeyes' Elite Eight win over LSU had drawn 12.3 million viewers, far surpassing the average viewership from LSU's national title win over Iowa last year, which had garnered 9.9 million viewers.

The viewership for Sunday's championship game was so exceptional that it outshined various other significant sporting events. According to The Athletic, the 18.7 million viewership figure surpassed all but four college football games from the 2023 season. Furthermore, it surpassed the viewership of every World Series game since the Nationals' Game 7 win over the Astros in 2019, every NBA Finals game since the Warriors' Game 5 victory over the Cavaliers in 2017, every Daytona 500 since 2008, and every final round of the Masters since Tiger Woods' second green jacket win in 2001.

Caitlin Clark's remarkable performance on the court played a significant role in attracting such a massive audience. Known as one of the greatest of all time in women's college hoops, Clark's consistent presence drew attention. In Sunday's game, Clark made a spectacular start, scoring 18 points in the first quarter, setting a record for the most points in the opening quarter of a championship game. At the end of the quarter, Iowa held a seven-point lead. However, Clark was limited to 12 points over the remaining three quarters as South Carolina's strong defense ultimately secured their undefeated 38-0 season.

Last year, it was Iowa and Clark who eliminated an undefeated South Carolina team in the Final Four, but this time, Dawn Staley and her team got their revenge, securing their second national championship in three years.

Now, Caitlin Clark's journey continues as she prepares for the upcoming 2024 WNBA Draft. She is widely expected to be selected as the No. 1 overall pick by the Indiana Fever in what promises to be a pivotal moment in her career.

As the spotlight shines brightly on women's college basketball, the record-breaking TV viewership highlights the growing popularity and recognition of the sport. With gifted athletes like Caitlin Clark captivating audiences, the future of women's college basketball looks incredibly promising.