For the first time in NCAA history, the women’s basketball championship game had more viewers than the men’s. It seems like everybody and their mothers are obsessed with women’s basketball right now. Let’s dive into this topic!
Yes, the current talent in women’s basketball is phenomenal, with the likes of University of Iowa’s Caitlin Clark breaking the record of most career points scored in the NCAA. But the role the media has played in amplifying the sport also cannot be understated. Media has been a pivotal tool in shifting perception, change, and ultimately, culture.
In 2021, a TikTok video went viral by an Oregon University women’s basketball player who compared NCAA training facilities for the women and men’s basketball teams. The disparity was stunning. This sparked an investigation that led to an overhaul within the NCAA for gender equity between the women’s and men’s basketball teams.
Since then, the media has continued to cover – and amplify – women’s basketball. Here are a few more examples of how the media this year has contributed to the rising popularity of women’s basketball:
- Former LSU player Angel Reese announced her entry to the WNBA Draft through Vogue
- The first-ever NBA vs. WNBA 3-Point Challenge which took place at 2024 State Farm All-Star Saturday Night between Sabrina Ionescu (New York Liberty) and Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)
- Stars like Jason Sudeikis, Chelsea Handler, and South Carolina Women’s Basketball Coach Dawn Staley wearing merch with the statement: “Everyone Watches Women’s Sports”, designed by Togethxr, a media and commerce brand founded by four athletes
- The overall focus on the players and coaches’ profiles with a more storytelling emphasis, which is what the media has done for men’s sports for years. This humanizes the athletes so fans develop a more emotional connection with them, which in turn drives further engagement.
What was your favorite women’s basketball moment in the media in the past couple of years? How much weight do you think the media has in boosting women’s basketball popularity right now?
