Women’s college basketball is on a Caitlin Clark wave right now after the Iowa sensation’s record-breaking campaign with the Hawkeyes.
Even though Clark and Iowa ultimately failed to defeat South Carolina, the women’s NCAA Championship game attracted a staggering 18.9 million viewers, four million more than the men’s equivalent.
UConn’s win over Purdue was watched by 14.8 million by comparison, though at 9:20 p.m. ET on Monday, compared to Iowa-South Carolina’s 3 p.m. start time on Sunday .
Still, four million additional viewers demonstrate the surge in popularity of the women’s college game this season. So does that mean women’s basketball is better than men’s?
Dailymail.com took to the streets of New York to find out where Americans stand.
Women’s college basketball is riding the Caitlin Clark wave after four million more viewers tuned in to Iowa vs. South Carolina and UConn vs. Purdue.
Dailymail.com took to the streets to ask Americans if women’s basketball is better than men’s basketball
One insisted that women’s sport has enjoyed a surge in popularity lately because players are “kicking ass”.
One fan laughed as soon as he heard the discussion topic before saying, “That’s a great question.”
Then they added: “I think from the point of view of the skills and the drills and the plays that you practice, I think that by far [women’s basketball is better] and they make the game look beautiful.”
Another fan admitted that he is “tired of watching men play basketball”, while a third claimed that the level of attention between men’s and women’s football is currently at the same level.
But when asked why there had been such a huge interest in women’s football lately, they concluded: “They’re kicking ass, that’s why!”
“And it’s fucking amazing to see.”
Another said: “If I’m seeing it, it definitely means it’s something people are paying attention to.”
A young man took a break from his own sport to comment on the rise of women’s football this year.
“When Caitlin started playing a couple years ago, I definitely started listening to and watching more women’s basketball,” she said.
Another admitted that he now watches the women’s games as much as the men’s games thanks to Clark.
Women’s basketball stars are new role models for the next generation, claimed a third
Clark set a number of NCAA records on his way to this season’s championship game with Iowa.
“But now my friends and I will put it in the same amount as we do in some men’s games.”
The female college stars were also described as “role models” for the next generation, as well as being “a joy to watch.”
Clark, widely considered one of the greatest college players of all time, set a number of NCAA records on her way with Iowa to the championship game, where they were defeated 87-75 by South Carolina.
The 22-year-old is now set to enter this year’s WNBA Draft, and the Indiana Fever is expected to select her with the first pick.