For the first time in three years, neither Women’s Final Four semifinal had a decline in overnights.
The Connecticut/Maryland Women’s NCAA Tournament Final Four game drew a 1.6 overnight rating on ESPN Sunday night, even with Connecticut/Stanford last year (1.6) and down 16% from Connecticut/Notre Dame in 2013 (1.9). The 1.6 matches last year as the lowest for the late window since at least 2008.
Earlier in the night, Notre Dame/South Carolina drew a 1.3 — up a tick from Notre Dame/Maryland last year (1.2) but down 13% from Louisville/Cal in 2013 (1.5). The 1.3 is the second-lowest for any Women’s Final Four telecast, regardless of window, since at least 2008.
Despite the low numbers, the uptick was the first for a women’s national semifinal in three years — since Notre Dame/Connecticut in 2012. In fact, this year marked the first time since 2012 that neither semifinal had a year-over-year decline.
Sunday’s games were outdrawn head-to-head by MLB Opening Night on ESPN2 (2.1).
(Sun. overnights from ESPN)
