Who doesn’t remember the LSU vs Iowa championship game a couple years ago? It was everything we, as fans, could have wanted, and then some! To some people, that game was the start of a new era for women’s basketball. Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers, and JuJu Watkins are some of the brightest stars in the sport, and college basketball has never been more alive!

In recent years, women have outperformed men at the college level, at least commercially. Last year’s championship clash between the Hawkeyes and the Gamecocks drew 24 million viewers as compared to the 14.8 million that were watching the men’s final. It was the first time in NCAA Tournament history that the viewership of the women’s final was more than the men’s.

And it seems like ESPN is all set to capitalize on the tournament’s success. According to a recent tweet by the Sports Business Journal, the cost of a 30-second ad spot in the NCAA championship game has skyrocketed over the last few years. It went from around $65,830 in the LSU vs Iowa game, to now standing at $438,692. For reference, last year’s championship game had ad-spots worth $188,870.

Even with Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese out of college, the recent rise in commercial prices is quite justified. ESPN is banking on players like Paige Bueckers, JuJu Watkins, and Hannah Hidalgo. And with their success? The hype just won’t die out! There are so many new eyeballs on the sport, and so many new fans, and it looks like companies will have to pay top dollar to access this viewer base.

Now, what can we expect from these stars in the upcoming tournament? We know that Coach Geno, Paige Bueckers and her UConn Huskies are primed to try and make a championship run. But will it be possible? Who stands in their way? Let’s find out.

What are we expecting from Paige Bueckers? UConn March Madness predictions

As the winningest coach of all-time in Division I basketball, Geno Auriemma has a proven track record of success. But for the last nine years, he’s gone ringless. Still, there’s no doubt that UConn has a golden opportunity to win the NCAA Tournament this year, with Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd leading the way. And what if the team remains fully healthy? They’ll be a force to be reckoned with.

So, the big question is, who are standing in their way? According to ESPN’s 2025 March Madness predictions, there aren’t many teams who can give Auriemma any competition. UConn has started their campaign against #15 Arkansas State on March 22nd. If Charlie Creme’s article proves true, they won’t face any issues till the Elite Eight.

According to ESPN, it will be a clash of the giants from the Elite Eight onwards. USC vs UConn, Paige Bueckers vs JuJu Watkins, and Creme has the Huskies at an advantage. Even though Bueckers hasn’t been contending well for NPOY honors, her presence on the team is crucial for UConn to stand a chance. The six-foot tall point guard is an excellent facilitator, and has had multiple points-assists double-doubles this season.

Bueckers, as the consensus #1 overall pick in the WNBA draft this year, has a lot to live up to. If UConn plays perfect, and ESPN’s bracket plays out, they’ll be meeting Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks in the finals again. With their last victory over Staley, they would be headed into the game with a lot of confidence. Still, there’s nothing certain in basketball. We can’t wait for the tournament to begin, and we can’t wait to see all the action unfold!