Of all the major sports in the USA that are traditionally dominated by men, women’s basketball could be in the best shape. That’s because this year, there has been a huge increase in the number of people tuning in to watch the NCAA women’s March Madness tournament thanks in large part to exciting players like Caitlyn Clark, Angel Reese, Aliyah Boston, Azzi Fudd, and Paige Bueckers, that are pushing the women’s game to the next level.
More People Than Ever Have Access to March Madness
March Madness has long been a landmark event for basketball, and it attracts viewers from around the world. In the past, it was difficult for some international fans to access the matches, but it’s now easier than ever to watch thanks to the rise of streaming. As CyberGhost’s blog piece highlights, there are numerous ways for people from all over the world to tune into March Madness.
According to that recent report from Yahoo! News, there was a 27 percent increase in viewers for the event. In addition to that, the 875 million minutes watched was a record for ESPN. This is excellent news for women’s basketball in the USA. The rise of accessibility could be a significant factor in the booming popularity of the women’s game. While the men’s game remains the main event, it’s easy for basketball lovers to get caught up in March Madness fever. This can lead them to consume as many games as possible.
Many viewers who discover women’s basketball for the first time realize it’s just as exciting as the men’s game.
The Key Factors Driving the Growth of Women’s Basketball
There are loads of factors that are helping women’s basketball reach a higher status. Since the turn of the millennium, there has been a notable increase in participation. Indeed, the International Basketball Federation released a report in 2018 that stated there were around 200,000 more players that year than there had been in 2006.
There was a greater amount of investment in the women’s game throughout the 2010s, and by 2020 the WNBA reached a point at which it was able to announce an increase in player salaries and benefits. A year later, WNBA reported that the league had forged a partnership with Google. This included increased marketing support and initiatives to improve player visibility.
Another factor that is helping the women’s game is the fact that more and more NBA players are coming and supporting the WNBA and NCAA women’s basketball. For example, during the 2023 NCAA championship game between LSU and Iowa, NBA legends Chris Paul, Pau Gasol, Charles Barkley and Dirk Nowitzki joined Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi during the in-game broadcast. It’s sad that it takes the endorsement from their male counterpoints for the general basketball population to even consider respecting the women’s game. It’s a sad truth.
Another important aspect that has helped the women’s basketball game has been its exceptional growth outside of the USA. Notably, there has been an astonishing uptake of the sport across Africa, with a 143 per cent increase in female players between 2009 and 2019. In Asia, the number of registered female players shot up by 50 per cent during the same timeframe.
These are certainly exciting times for women’s basketball, and it could one day reach a point at which it challenges the men’s game. March Madness is a great indicator of where the sport is at, and the fact that so many people are watching the matches is promising. The USA is setting an example for other countries when it comes to promoting women’s sports.