by RIYA KALRA
It’s official: Women’s basketball has finally arrived.
Heads were turned, with millions of TV and mobile viewers tuned in to the 2023 NCAA Women’s Final Four. The game is changing.
A major factor that contributed to the discourse about women’s college basketball during this year’s March Madness was the eye-opening performance of Iowa superstar Caitlin Clark. Some are calling Clark the female Steph Curry, given her ability to shoot from anywhere on the court.
Others have depicted her as the humble girl from the cornfields who has been transforming the perceptions of women’s college basketball.
Clark is known for her prolific scoring ability, as well as her passing and playmaking skills. She is considered one of the top prospects in college basketball, with a bright future as a pro … but with at least one more year playing for the Hawkeyes.
In Dallas, both Iowa and the unbeaten, No. 1-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks put on a show.
Actually, they gave me a show … as I was fortunate to have been part of the sellout crowd that weekend at the American Airlines Center. What an experience!
The game was enthralling, the score constantly shifting, Clark hitting 3’s from all over the floor. The semifinal games attracted more than 5.5 million viewers on ESPN, a major shift in the evolution of women’s basketball. Women’s college basketball has received more media coverage in recent years, helping raise awareness of the sport and increasing its popularity.
More games are now broadcast on television, and there is more coverage of the sport in newspapers, magazines and online sources.
In the first semifinal game, LSU Coach Kim Mulkey showed up in one of her typical eye-catching outfits: a pink jacket with enormous pink flowers, complementing her fresh-white blouse and pants.
But make no mistake, Mulkey can coach.
This was the fifth time she had led a team to the Final Four. Many coaches now have extensive experience and training in the sport, which has helped to improve the quality of coaching and player development.
On the other side of the court, Coach Kenny Brooks of Virginia Tech led the Hokies to their first ACC title and a No. 1 slot in the NCAA Tournament. In the end, the Tigers were too tough, with breakout star Angel Reese putting up an impressive 24 points and 12 rebounds.
“Watching games like these have definitely changed how I think of women’s ball,” Chatsworth Sierra Canyon High’s four-star senior recruit Ashton Hardaway told me.
The number of women playing college basketball has increased significantly over the years, helping improve the overall talent level of the sport and making it more competitive.
In a highly anticipated championship game between two spectacular teams and star players, Clark and her Hawekeyes faced off against Reese and the Tigers. There were plenty of highlights and memorable moments from the game, which confirmed a significant increase and interest in women’s basketball … across the entire sports landscape.
The game went back and forth between the high-caliber teams. Despite Clark putting up an impressive 35 points, LSU managed to outscore Iowa, 102-85, the highest-scoring women’s championship game in NCAA history.
Reese definitely had something to say to Clark after the game in a well-publicized trash-talking moment … welcome to the big time! The teams put on a thrilling show, attracting almost 10 million viewers … and likely gaining greater corporate support.
Women’s college basketball programs have received greater sponsorship investment in recent years, which in turn has helped to improve the quality of facilities, equipment and overall resources.
This has helped to attract better players and coaches to the sport, and has helped to improve the overall experience for both players and fans.
Oh, and by the way, true confessions: During the Final Four, I visited the University of Iowa website and bought my very own Cailtin Clark No. 22 jersey. Let’s go!
The Mainsheet 