Girl Power Rising, More like Finally Shining

2024, the year of the Dragon who is strong and independent, but also known to be a great leader while seeking support and reassurance. The sports world has seen a not just one but many “dragons” this past month. ESPN released the numbers for the 2024 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) March Madness tournament. Six of the eight rounds had broken the record of average viewership. Averaging 2.2 million viewers per each of the 57 games broke all the records that stood since 1996, when the tournament started. The eight-game broke
record for the men or women, with the Iowa-LSU game recording 12.3 million viewers and the second highest audience since 2012 for any basketball game (pro or college, man or women) that ESPN broadcasted. The final four Iowa-UConn game register 14.8 million viewers, breaking a record set just 40 hours before. This record didn’t hold the top spot for long as the Iowa- South Carolina Finals averaged 18.9 million viewers. People tuning into the tube box is awesome, selling out area’s is major steps, record setting ticket prices show shifting margins. The major movement that also happened is the broadcast panel for the Final Four games, and final. The world saw an all-women’s
panel with Elle Duncan, Andraya Carter, Chiney Ogwumike, Carolyn Peck and Aliyah Boston. Not only did se witness a rare all-women’s sports broadcast, but it was also all African America Women. JuJu Watkins, Pagie Bueckers, Hannah Hidalgo, Aaliyah Edwards, Angel Resse, and Aneesah Morrow are just a few players that have been a part of changing this stigma that had shadow women’s basketball and sports in general. Caitlin Clark however is a household name, highest selling jersey within the US and thumbnail of women’s sports around the USA. She has created the spotlight on the sport and been used by the media and sponsors to shine on women’s sports. After South Carolina finished their season 35-0, they became National Champions after beating Iowa and Caitlin Clark, head coach Dawn Staley spoke out. Dawn Stanly had just won her third National Championship, becoming the fifth coach to win three and fifth coach to do it unbeaten. Stanly took a moment in her post-game interview on court during the net cutting ceremony to say “I want to personally thank Caitlin Clark for lifting our sport. She carried a heavy load for our sport, and it just is not going to stop here on the collegiate tour, but when she is the number one pick in the WNBA draft. She’s going to league up as well. So, Caitlin Clark if you’re out there, you are one of the GOATS of our game that we appreciate you.” Caitlin Clark will has left a mark in college history books, she also added to the sparks of the growing women’s sport industry. With the women’s world cup last year and the start of the new Professional Women’s Hockey league this year, 2024 is looking to keep the push going. We will see for the first time ever that the Olympics games in July will
have a equal number of male and female athletes, marking history. All of this is a direct impact to the forecasted revenue of women’s sports surpassing $1 billion. Yes, that a B not a M and that would mark a 300% increase since 2021.

With leaps to make within the realm of women’s sports and its own stand indemnity, 2024 is a great start. Alex Morgan, Chloe Kim, Sue Bird, and Simone Manuel are some top tier athletes that are using this momentum and bring the world a message; Everyone Watches Women’s Sports.