Fans Flock to South Carolina vs. LSU Showdown 🏀

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What To Know About Women’s Basketball Today

1. Big Numbers for South Carolina vs LSU 📺

The viewership numbers are in for last Friday’s highly anticipated South Carolina vs. LSU showdown, and while South Carolina claimed victory on the court, the game was a big win for women’s hoops. A total of 841,000 viewers tuned in, with a peak audience of 1.1 million. This was the fourth most-watched women’s college basketball game of the season across all networks and the second most-watched on ESPN. (ESPN on X)

WHY IT MATTERS: When women’s games are made accessible, fans show up. Many college games are limited to conference networks or streaming platforms, making them harder to access. The South Carolina vs. LSU game aired on ESPN—a channel with broader availability—and fans tuned in!

For context, the NBA averaged 1.1 million viewers per game across all networks during the 2023-24 season. While women’s basketball still has room to grow, these numbers demonstrate the interest in the game.

2. Ivy League Opts Out of NCAA Settlement 📚

The Ivy League has announced that its athletic programs, including women’s basketball, will opt out of the recent NCAA antitrust settlement agreement, which permits schools to directly pay their student-athletes. While NIL deals remain allowed, the Ivy League will not implement revenue sharing or direct payments to athletes. (ESPN)

WHY IT MATTERS: The Ivy League has long taken a unique approach to NCAA Division I athletics, prioritizing academics over commercialization. Unlike most Division I conferences, they do not offer athletic scholarships, emphasizing the “student” in student-athlete. By opting out of the antitrust settlement, the Ivy League reaffirms its commitment to maintaining amateur status while competing at a high level.

3. Hailey Van Lith Named 3×3 Female Athlete of the Year 🏆

USA Basketball has named TCU guard Hailey Van Lith the 2024 3×3 Female Athlete of the Year. The 5’7” shooting guard represented Team USA at the Paris Olympics last summer, playing a pivotal role in helping the team secure the bronze medal. (USA Basketball)

WHY IT MATTERS: While USA basketball often looks to the pros to fill Olympic rosters, Van Lith’s inclusion and success highlight the depth and talent within the college basketball pipeline. The 2024 college class injected fresh energy into the WNBA this past season, and with stars like Van Lith and others finishing their college careers, the 2025 class looks to be another exciting crop of talent.