America wanted to see a rematch between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese.
Monday’s March Madness Elite Eight matchup and rematch of the National Championship Game drew 12.3 million viewers on ESPN, the network announced Tuesday.
The broadcast reached a peak audience of 16 million viewers, according to The Athletic, and was also the most-watched college basketball game ever on the ESPN platform, according to the network.
LSU won last year’s championship 102-85. It drew 9.9 million viewers on ABC.. This was the first time a women’s title match was shown on the network.
The game was the most-watched college basketball game on the ESPN platform and the most-watched college event in ESPN+ history.
The 9.9 million viewers were a 104 percent increase from the 2022 championship game, in which the University of South Carolina defeated UConn.
In front of millions of spectators, Iowa and Clark were eliminated from the tournament with 94-87 wins over Reese and LSU, resulting in an even score.
Clark torched LSU with 41 points, including a record-tying nine 3-pointers to help pull Iowa State away in the third quarter after the team entered halftime with a total of 45 points.
Reese had 17 points and 20 rebounds before fouling out, while teammate Frauge led LSU with 23 points.
Clark’s performance surprised LSU coach Kim Mulkey.
“What did I tell her?” Mulkey said. “I said, ‘I’m so glad you’re leaving.’ Girl, you’re a different person. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
ESPN expects even more monster ratings in the Final Four, where No. 1 seed Iowa State plays No. 3 seed UConn, the greatest powerhouse in the history of the sport, and beats USC to win the regional championship.
This matchup will likely feature two of the top players in the country in Clark and college star Paige Bueckers, but there is some debate as to who is better.
Undefeated South Carolina, which faces North Carolina State in its other Final Four game, will likely wait for the Hawkeyes or Huskies in the national championship game, but both programs have history.
Clark defeated South Carolina in last year’s Final Four, which could be the difference between three wins and two titles in three years for the McGee-Cox.
UW will be looking to avenge the 2022 loss, which was the Huskies’ only loss in the title game in 12 tournaments.
