The Caitlin Clark effect was in full force in Saturday’s big game between Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes and the Maryland Terrapins. On top of an historic sellout for the Terps, it was an historic day for Fox Sports’ viewership.
According to Richard Deitsch of The Athletic, Saturday’s Iowa-Maryland game was the most-watched women’s basketball game in Fox Sports history. Per the report, 1.58 million fans tuned in to see Iowa beat Maryland at the Xfinity Center.
Deitsch also noted that Iowa has now participated in three of the five most-watched women’s college basketball games this season.
“Saturday’s Iowa-Maryland game averaged 1.58M viewers in primetime, the most-watched women’s basketball game in the history of Fox Sports. @IowaWBB has now played in three of the five most-watched women’s college basketball games this season to date,” The Athletic wrote on X.
Saturday’s Iowa-Maryland game averaged 1.58M viewers in primetime, the most-watched women’s basketball game in the history of Fox Sports.@IowaWBB has now played in three of the five most-watched women’s college basketball games this season to date.
H/T @richarddeitsch pic.twitter.com/tdLABJmIqy
— The Athletic WBB (@TheAthleticWBB) February 6, 2024
“The best women’s college basketball player I’ve ever seen is Maya Moore. I covered her live 15-20 times and that impacts my thinking. She’ll always be my answer. But Caitlin Clark is IMO the sport’s biggest draw in history. These reg season viewership numbers are incredible,” Deitsch wrote in a follow-up post.
Clark is on pace to break the all-time record for points – with plenty of games to spare.
After she does that, who knows how high she’ll set the bar in the sport?