ESPN networks have rights to both the WNBA and the women’s NCAA Tournament coverage.
This season, Caitlin Clark made very few appearances on the ESPN networks
For the next six months at least, Clark will have plenty of airtime on ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC. The women’s NCAA Tournament begins this weekend, and Clark’s debut season in the WNBA—during which she is anticipated to be selected by the Indiana Fever—will follow this summer.
The fact that we are in a position to record her final run through this chapter of her life is a huge advantage. However, we may continue with ESPN and cover that for the ensuing 20 years by starting with the next chapter. Sara Gaiero, the vice president of production at ESPN, who is in charge of the women’s tournament production for the first time, said, “That is huge for us to be able to continue telling that story.”
Following the Big Ten’s contract expiration, ESPN’s contract with Iowa was limited to two away or neutral site games on ESPN2. The conference’s rights agreements with NBC, CBS, and Fox began this year.
For the first of perhaps three tournament games on ABC, Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes play their opening game on Saturday against either UT Martin or Holy Cross. The other two are if the Hawkeyes can make it to the championship game in Cleveland on April 7 and a potential Sweet 16 clash in Albany, New York on March 30.
The viewers for each of Clark’s six appearances on Fox, NBC, and CBS averaged 2.11 million, with the final two garnering in excess of 3 million. Seven college basketball regular season games involving men and women garnered crowds of at least 3 million spectators, according to Nielsen and Sports Media Watch.
It is expected that Clark will continue to draw sizable audiences despite the ongoing men’s competition. The men’s regional finals on March 30 don’t start until after 6 p.m., with the Albany regional matches on ABC slated for the afternoon. On Saturday, there is only one men’s game on CBS versus Iowa.
Along with becoming the first women’s basketball player and team to participate on all four broadcast networks in the same season, Clark will make history on Saturday. The only other instances that this has been done are by certain NFL clubs or players.
According to ESPN analyst Andraya Carter, “I think it shows the effect that Caitlin has had on the game and how many people want to tune in to watch what she’s going to do on the floor.” “I simply believe it’s evidence of the current state of women’s basketball, the popularity of the sport, and the enjoyment fans are getting from the action.”
Coverage of Clark’s final home games at Iowa will be extensive.
Friday’s Pat McAfee Show on ESPN will broadcast live from the University of Iowa, with reporter Holly Rowe attending the first two games in person. Rowe will probably stay with the Hawkeyes for the duration of their tournament run.
The tournament’s viewership averaged 983,000 last year, up 55% from 2022. With a viewership of 9.9 million, the LSU vs. Iowa championship game holds the record for most women’s basketball viewing ever.
ESPN enters the tournament this year with the knowledge that it will be able to broadcast it until at least 2032. An eight-year deal that includes numerous NCAA national titles was negotiated in January between the NCAA and ESPN, which has been broadcasting the tournament since 1996.
Though Clark is the center of attention for this year’s tournament, a number of outstanding rookies, like as JuJu Watkins of Southern California, MiLaysia Fulwiley of South Carolina, Hannah Hidalgo of Notre Dame, and Madison Booker of Texas, have the potential to be significant contributors.
“I seem to recall being anxious right before the conversations started. Carter remarked, “I didn’t want to lose this tournament.” We will have the opportunity to see these freshmen compete for two or three more years after we talk about them. And that is something you should cling to.