The championship game of women’s college basketball attracted fewer viewers than a semifinal two nights earlier.
Connecticut’s win over Stanford in the Women’s NCAA Basketball National Championship Game drew a 2.3 U.S. rating and 3.5 million viewers on ESPN Tuesday night, up 28% in ratings and 32% in viewership from Connecticut/Louisville last year (1.8, 2.7 mil), but down 8% and 9%, respectively, from Tennessee/Stanford in ’08 (2.5, 3.9 mil).
The 2.3 rating is the fourth-lowest for the National Championship Game since ’99, ahead of last year, 2007 (1.9) and 2005 (2.2).
Connecticut/Stanford actually drew a lower rating and fewer viewers than the Connecticut/Baylor National Semifinal on Sunday (2.4, 3.8 mil).
Overall, the Women’s Final Four averaged a 2.0 U.S. rating and 3.2 million viewers on ESPN, up 18% and 22%, respectively, from last year (1.7, 2.6 mil).
ESPN averaged a 1.1 U.S. rating and 1.6 million viewers for its 12-game coverage of the Women’s NCAA Tournament, up 10% and 12%, respectively, from last year (1.0, 1.5 mil).
Ratings For Women’s NCAA Tournament Since 1999
(ESPN)
