Women's Basketball

Women's basketball is fully getting the appreciation it deserves

Darcy Mullane '24

Editor-in-Chief of Design

Women’s college basketball has recently gone viral on social media, but what is the history behind it and why is this a good thing? 

First, women’s sports have been constantly overshadowed by men’s sports, and female athletes have never received the same opportunities as their male counterparts. We have needed equity for years in women’s sports and many would agree, but there are some people who disagree. Some argue that equity already exists, but many people just do not care to watch women’s sports because the men’s sports are “more interesting.” 

It’s true that if you compare the views for the WNBA and NBA there is a significant difference, but the men’s NBA has been around much longer, and at the beginning of it there were very few views as well. 

The WNBA was founded in 1996, meaning it’s only been around for 28 years, while the NBA was founded in 1946–that is a 50 year difference. Of course it’s going to have more viewers. 

This isn’t the only reason why the WNBA is less watched, because let’s not ignore the elephant in the room–misogyny. It has been ingrained in society that women were not made for sports. This thought leads to people thinking the women’s sports are going to be less entertaining and less professional. Yes, women and men have different bodies, but that does not mean men are more impressive athletes, and this year’s women’s march madness has proven that. 

This year’s NCAA Division I women’s college basketball teams have disproved this idea that women are less impressive athletes and the audience for this year’s games have increased dramatically. 

Superfan Lucy Multer '24 in her Iowa crewneck

These amazing athletes have made history by having a record breaking number of viewers for the final game of South Carolina versus Iowa, where they had 18.9 million viewers in comparison to men’s college basketball finals, where they had 14.7 million viewers. 

One of these women who has been making history in the sport and increasing views is Caitlin Clark, the Iowa Hawkeyes’ point guard. She has gone viral all over social and news media outlets, as she has blown people away with her excellent talent. She recently broke the record for the number of career points in Division I basketball history–this includes both women and men’s teams. 

Caitlin Clark has shown women of all ages that they can do anything a man can do and do it better. 

Although Iowa lost to South Carolina in the finals, they have made an everlasting impact on women’s basketball. 

We can hope that this interest in women’s sports continues in an upward pattern because this has truly been an amazing feeling as a woman to see women’s sports get the respect they deserve. 

Keep tuning in to women’s sports because these athletes deserve it!