CLARK MANIA
Caitlin Clark smashes TV audience record not even LeBron James could break as ESPN announces mega NCAA viewing figures
The Gamecocks' win over the Hawkeyes eclipsed every NBA game since 2019 in terms of viewers
IOWA Hawkeyes player Caitlin Clark's star power has resulted in TV ratings not even achieved by LeBron James and the NBA over the past five years.
Sunday's NCAA women's Championship game was the most-watched basketball contest on US TV since 2019.
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Clark's remarkable college career ended on a disappointing note as the South Carolina Gamecocks beat her Iowa Hawkeyes 87-75 in Cleveland, Ohio.
The game was broadcast on ABC and ESPN, bringing in an incredible preliminary audience average of 18.7 million, per ESPN PR.
Only select NFL games, the Olympics, and the soccer World Cup have boasted better TV ratings over the past five years, added the report.
That makes it the most-watched basketball game since 2019 when Virginia and Texas Tech's NCAA showdown averaged 19.6 million on CBS.
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The last NBA game to draw at least 18 million viewers was Game 6 of the 2019 Finals, as the Toronto Raptors faced off with the Golden State Warriors.
"18. 7 MILLION," wrote Clark on X, adding a fire emoji.
"Put some respect in her name. People love watching Caitlin Clark. I hope @WNBA do better job of marketing their star players and they all deserve to get pay more!!!" responded one fan.
"We might witness a WNBA finals getting more views than a NBA finals in our lifetimes," said another.
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"You’re the greatest Caitlin. Thanks for making my daughters want to watch sports with me," added a third.
"I hope the @WNBA capitalizes off this phenomenon," commented a fourth.
Undisputed star Rachel Nichols reckons Caitlin Clark 'is not the GOAT' but claims Iowa star 'will give WNBA a lift'
Clark declared for the WNBA Draft last month after a remarkable college career.
"I am excited to be entering the 2024 WNBA Draft," she wrote on X.
"It is impossible to fully express my gratitude to everyone who has supported me during my time at Iowa - my teammates, who made the last four years the best.
"Most importantly, none of this would have been possible without my family and friends who have been by my side through it all. Because of all of you, my dreams came true."
Clark passed "Pistol" Pete Maravich’s NCAA points record of 3,667 in March against the Ohio State Buckeyes.
She dropped 30 points in the loss to the Gamecocks, ending her college career with a dizzying 3,951 points.
The 22-year-old leaves the NCAA holding an incredible number of solo records.
She is the active leader in career points, scoring average, 3-pointers per game, career assists, assists per game, field goals made, 3-point attempts, and free throws made per NY1.
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Four-time NBA champion LeBron is no stranger to huge TV ratings, with his most-watched game coming almost a decade ago.
31 million viewers tuned in to see James' Cleveland Cavaliers take on the Golden State Warriors in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals, per FadeAwayWorld.