If you search social media for excitement about the current state of women’s college basketball, you won’t just find fans talking about the athletes on the court. You’ll also find people talking about Elle Duncan, Andraya Carter, and Chiney Ogwumike. Attention to women’s college basketball has reached an all-time high, smashing television ratings (more than 12 million people tuned in to the Elite Eight game between Iowa and LSU), and star athletes becoming well-known, including Caitlin Clark As they star in commercials — ESPN’s studio shows led by these three women are catching up to the hype.
Some on social media are calling them the new “big three.” Some people posted photos of LeBron James, Michael Jordan, and Kobe Bryant with references to the trio. Some people joke to their children that this was the real Destiny’s Child.
“I was really surprised,” Carter said Thursday in Cleveland of the show’s praise. “For us, all of our focus is on the game, planning this show, and everything we put into it is for the players and the game. We plan our shows around the things we’re most passionate about, and that’s best represented on screen. We’re all friends in real life, so there are little moments where our personalities come through and I We are all happy to be ourselves.”
Duncan joked that he almost wonders if all the love on social media is a trap, that everyone is so kind on such a cruel and toxic platform.
“For us, the real joy is talking about women’s basketball, amplifying their stories, they love the game and I love the game, all of that in a perfect storm. We’re coming together,” Duncan said.
Richard Deitsch, media reporter athletic, said on twitterCarter and Ogwumike are said to be “smart, analytical, and able to relate to young viewers.”
Asked about younger viewers, Carter said, “I think that happens by chance.” “We are just naturally ourselves. We bring people. [who haven’t watched the game a long time] Including some cultural references as well. Our older fans love the game, they come out to it, and they probably don’t care if the joke is on their mind, but I think younger people’s attention goes away pretty quickly, so I think it’s important to understand their interest. But I don’t think it’s intentionally aimed at a younger audience, and I think that’s fine, no matter who we are. ”
Whether Duncan shows off his sweatpants under his desk and tells the audience about her. teenage rebellion Or as Ogwumike ties in current news and mentions the release of Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter album, the show brought a new type of energy and entertainment to ESPN. That reliability is something Duncan is proud of.
“I first started when I was 20 years old, and I’ve been doing this for 21 years. I remember working in Atlanta and being a chameleon, trying to change myself no matter what the situation was,” Duncan said. said Thursday at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. “At one point I said, ‘If I tried to be someone else and none of them worked out, have I really achieved my goal?’ I’ve always wondered what I would have been like if I was just you. I decided years ago that whether I like you or not, I’m going to be me. I want to be the best version of myself. .
Not only does this trio seem authentic, but viewers can even see how in sync analysts Carter and Ogwumike are, often making the same hand movements and reactions during key match moments. I noticed. Carter laughed, thinking it was very funny, but was adamant that it wasn’t planned. She talked about how she and Ogwumike always discuss the game in preparation for the halftime show. She said they sometimes see different things and have different opinions, and she greatly appreciates the staff for always asking for different clips and moments to cut.
There’s no denying that women have more exposure and opportunities than ever before in sports and sports media. With her contract with NIL, her sponsorship, and her social media following, this female athlete now has a brand as well. Carter talked about how the women’s basketball players really built on the momentum from last season. She talked about how many stars have grown even more and gotten more attention compared to last year.
“For women’s basketball fans, we feel it’s premature,” Carter said. “Imagine all this kind of hype around Candace Parker and Maya Moore. Maybe there was, but without social media…if you couldn’t watch the fight, you would still watch the fight. You can’t miss what’s happening right now and I think it’s special and these players deserve it. It’s a testament to the analysts and players who were there.”
Duncan talked about how much events like this mean to her because it represents women.
“It’s such a great time to meet your daughters and catch up with other women in the media. You have to give to each one. Being a woman in the media can be tough sometimes. “There is, and the space has never been like this,” Duncan said, looking around the room. “Even if you go to the Super Bowl, it’s different.”
The show will continue in Cleveland over the next few days, covering Friday night’s semifinals and Sunday’s championship. South Carolina graduate, current Indiana Fever WNBA player and 2023 No. 1 draft pick Aliyah Boston will also join the team. Carter promised there would probably be some more antics, and Duncan said the team would also be on the Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe show on Saturday.
