With a new national champion and a fresh WNBA Draft class, the narratives around women’s college basketball remain the same. Despite heightened interest last season, there are concerns about viewership dips in the year following Caitlin Clark’s WNBA draft. The record-breaking national championship clash between Iowa and South Carolina drew an impressive average of 18.7 million viewers, while this season’s average of 8.5 million may seem underwhelming, even though it marked the third-most watched women’s championship since ESPN took exclusive rights in 1996.
However, there’s no reason to panic about the future of women’s college basketball in a post-Clark era. In fact, there are numerous reasons to stay optimistic. Here are four key points:
History: Magic vs Larry
While the Caitlin Clark effect is significant, sports fans have historically tuned into major matchups over regular sports programming. Following the 2025 women’s championship, Haley Rosen reminded us that the 1979 NCAA men’s basketball championship between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird attracted a staggering 35 million viewers, making it the highest-rated college basketball game ever. That year, NBA Finals games were aired on tape delay due to being deemed unworthy of prime time. The 1980 NCAA men’s championship secured 20 million viewers, a notable decrease from previous years, yet the NBA eventually gained traction, just as college basketball ratings improved over time.
Viewership declines after key player graduations are common in college basketball, a trend not exclusive to women’s sports. History suggests that the sport will thrive moving forward, especially as the WNBA approaches its 29th season, far surpassing the NBA’s early developmental stages.
Women’s Sports Bars
Another promising indicator for the future of women’s basketball is the surge of women’s sports bars gaining traction across the United States. The Sports Bra in Portland, OR, opened in 2022 as the first of its kind and achieved $1 million in profit within just eight months, offering a welcoming haven for women, LGBTQ fans, and their male supporters to enjoy sports. Following its success, the number of similar bars is projected to quadruple by the end of 2025.
Social Media and NIL
Female athletes dominate social media engagement despite the existing earnings gap compared to their male counterparts. While top-earning college basketball players tend to be men, they lag in comparison to the vast audiences attracted to women’s sports, showcasing that female athletes, while undervalued in the NIL landscape, possess significant earning potential.
The 2025 WNBA Draft Class
The 2025 WNBA Draft class, headlined by #1 pick Paige Bueckers, features an array of talent. Her jerseys quickly sold out post-announcement, alongside stars like Kiki Iriafen, Georgia Amoore, and Hailey Van Lith, who will unite with LSU teammate Angel Reese on the Chicago Sky. Underdogs like Kaitlyn Chen and Aaliyah Nye also made an impact deserving attention in the Draft.
The WNBA Draft has transformed into a fashion spectacle, highlighting investments from brands like Coach, Louis Vuitton, and Amiri, emphasizing commitment to female athletes. Moreover, before the draft even commenced, the Golden State Valkyries, the newest WNBA team, set a precedence by selling 10,000 season tickets. This suggests ongoing fan investment in women’s basketball.
The Caitlin Clark era has catalyzed a visibility surge for women’s basketball at all levels. Though Paige Bueckers was long touted as the next major talent, Clark’s ascent has amplified the spotlight on the pathway from college to the pros. Having clinched the national championship at UConn and emerged as the standout player in the first tournament post-Clark, Bueckers transitions to the pros as a significant figure. Fans are eager to discover who may emerge as the next Clark or Bueckers, be it her UConn teammate Azzi Fudd, UCLA’s Lauren Betts, or an upcoming star yet to capture the national interest.
The current state of women’s basketball is promising, suggesting a brighter future for the sport overall.
