The NCAA Women's Basketball National Championship on Sunday made history by attracting a record-breaking 18.7 million viewers. The media frenzy surrounding Iowa's basketball prodigy, Caitlin Clark, played a significant role in drawing new eyes to the sport. The game saw South Carolina triumph over Iowa with a scoreline of 87-75 at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland. ESPN announced that it was the most-watched basketball game, pro or college, on their network since 2019.

At its peak, the championship game drew a staggering 24 million viewers, as reported by ESPN. This epic clash between Iowa and South Carolina proved to be a fitting finale for the most-viewed NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament in history. ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro expressed his delight, stating, "These exceptional athletes, coaches, and teams captured our attention in unprecedented ways, and it's incumbent on all of us to keep the incredible momentum going."

In the semifinal matchup between Iowa and UConn on Friday, a remarkable 14.2 million viewers tuned in, reaching a peak of 17 million viewers. These figures surpassed the viewership of every World Series game or NBA finals game last year. Iowa emerged triumphant with a close 71-69 victory over UConn.

Sunday's championship game also marked the end of Caitlin Clark's college career, a celebrated player who garnered national attention for breaking Division I scoring records for both women and men. She concluded her NCAA journey with an impressive 30-point performance in the final and will now prepare for the WNBA draft.

For South Carolina, the victory brought redemption after their Final Four dreams were shattered last year by Iowa, which eliminated them from the tournament. The team ended their season on a perfect note, clinching the championship title.

Even "Saturday Night Live" recognized the increased attention on women's college basketball. The show's cold-open parody of the March Madness TV coverage humorously addressed the disparity in interest compared to men's college hoops. Cast member Kenan Thompson, portraying retired NBA star Charles Barkley, hilariously quipped, "Caitlin Clark is doing ads for State Farm, Subway, Xfinity, and Nike. I'm only doing ads for three of those companies."

The skyrocketing viewership numbers, the incredible talent displayed by athletes like Caitlin Clark, and South Carolina's triumphant season highlight the growing popularity and significance of NCAA women's basketball. With the sport capturing the nation's attention like never before, its continued growth and success seem inevitable.