Women’s College World Series ratings could not measure up to last year.
Tuesday’s Game 2 of the Florida State-Washington Women’s College World Series final earned a 0.95 rating and 1.5 million viewers on ESPN, down 12% in ratings and 13% in viewership from last year (Oklahoma-Florida: 1.1, 1.7M) but up 3% and 6% respectively from 2016 (Auburn-Oklahoma: 0.92, 1.4M).
Despite the drop, FSU’s win was the most-watched weeknight baseball or softball game since MLB Opening Day (Giants-Dodgers: 2.0M). It topped the competing Marlins-Cardinals MLB game on FS1 by nearly 300% (383K).
Game 1 of the series on Monday night had a 0.8 and 1.2 million, down 20% in ratings and 24% in viewership from last year (1.0, 1.6M) but up a tick and 20% respectively from 2016 (0.7, 1.0M).
In other action, FSU’s two wins over UCLA on Sunday scored a 0.7 and 1.0 million (ESPN) and a 0.48 and 768,000 (ESPN2). The former declined a tick in ratings and 16% in viewership from last year (Oklahoma-Oregon: 0.8, 1.2M). For the latter, there was no comparable window last year.
Also Sunday, Washington’s win over Oklahoma had a 0.6 (flat) and 966,000 (+2%).
The most-watched game of the weekend involved neither finalist. Saturday’s Oklahoma-Florida game had a 0.7 and 1.07 million, up a tick in ratings and 12% in viewership from last year (Washington-UCLA: 0.6, 953K).
