March Madness is back, brackets are burgeoning, and the excitement is in the air. But let’s be honest, it’s the women who we’re all eager to watch. I said it last year and I’ll say it again: March Madness is all about the women. Period.
With phenoms like Hannah Hidalgo, Paige Bueckers, Juju Watkins, Te-Hina Paopao, and more on collegiate rosters, how could you not be excited? While some critics worried that the viewership around women’s college basketball would die down when Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese left for the WNBA, dedicated fans have remained. “Regular season games were up three percent year-over-year across all of ESPN properties – and up an eye-popping 41 percent over 2023,” per the New York Times’s Athletic. While we might not reach last year’s record 19 million viewers during the the Iowa vs. South Carolina game, no one can deny the continued interest in women’s sports.
For the first time in history, the women’s teams who compete in the NCAA tournament will be paid “performance units” to invest back into their programs – something that the men’s teams have been afforded since 1991. The NCAA and ESPN also signed a $920 million, eight-year agreement for 40 championships, including the Division I women’s basketball tournament. And at the same time, women’s collegiate stars are rolling in name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals, demonstrating brand recognition of and investment in athletes.
In other words, women athletes are the moment – but not just because brands and sports associations are starting to throw money at them. It’s because they’re genuinely inspiring (and fun!) to follow and champion. Their grit and talent is unmatched. They possess a hunger, and a kind of unabashed confidence and drive, that I admire and hope to emulate in pursing my own life’s goals.
So yes, March Madness is entertaining, but here’s my annual reminder to push forward, work harder, and do the damn thing. Rooting for women is never a mistake. And if you’re one of the newer fans who faded fast and hasn’t turned on ESPN since Clark last wore an Iowa jersey, you’re missing out. Turn on the TV, lock in, and get inspired.
Alexis Jones (she/her) is the senior health and fitness editor at PS. In her six years of editorial experience, Alexis has developed passions and areas of expertise around mental health, women’s health and fitness, racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare, and chronic conditions. Prior to joining PS, she was the senior editor at Health magazine. Her other bylines can be found at Women’s Health, Prevention, Marie Claire, and more.
