Months After Historic 9.9 Million Night, Iowa Assistant Coach Heaps Praise on “Caitlin Clark Era”

The viewership numbers in women’s sports across the globe has seen a considerable rise in recent years as younger generations are drawn towards various sports in the women’s division. The FIFA Women’s World Cup earlier this year saw 2 billion people tune in for the event showing an increase in viewership which was unthinkable a few years ago. While the numbers attained during the World Cup in Australia was astronomical compared to the Women’s sports in the US, the growing popularity within the WNBA and collegiate women’s basketball scene cannot be ignored when speaking about the gaining traction within women’s sports.

The Women’s NCAA Finals matchup between LSU and Iowa earlier this year saw a 72% increase in viewership compared to the previous season as the rivalry between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese saw many fans tune in to watch the spectacle. This immense rise in popularity has left few individuals puzzled but many within the women’s division have been aware of this gradual rise as Iowa’s assistant coach recently spoke on this changing demographic and how it encapsulated millions within a short span.

The “Caitlin Clark Era” ahead of historical preseason clash

During a recent appearance on ‘Iowa’s News Now’ channel, Hawkeyes’ assistant coach Jan Jensen spoke on the growing popularity of women’s basketball as she expressed her views to television hosts Nada Shamah and Owen Siebring. Jensen who has been a part of the Hawkeyes set up since 2000 was in awe of the growing popularity in women’s sport as she heaped praise on the “Caitlin Clark era.”

While speaking of Caitlin and the current team during the interview Jan also credited previous stars of Iowa for this incredible rise in women’s basketball as the much anticipated ‘Crossover at Kinnick’ event on Sunday draws closer.

Continuing to speak of Caitlin and the stalwarts before her, the 52-year-old stated, “To be a part of a group that is making such strides and to be a part of the Caitlin Clark era, right? But it started with the Megan Gustafson era and Sam Logic era.”

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The event which has been aptly named ‘Crossover at Kinnick‘ will see the Kinnick Stadium (mainly a football stadium) host a basketball game between Iowa and DePaul. The event is looking to break the women’s basketball attendance record of 29,619 which was set in 2002.

Iowa set to break another record after historic 9.9 million night

College women’s basketball is certainly on the rise as the Iowa Hawkeyes prepare to host DePaul University in a preseason friendly at the Kinnick Stadum. With a stadium capacity of 69,000 plus, the matchup will surely break the record for the biggest attendance during a women’s basketball game with an alleged 55,000 tickets being sold so far.

While the event will surely go down in history books, Caitlin Clark and Co. have already set another record earlier this year as their Finals matchup against LSU saw 9.9 million viewers tune in to watch the match.

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Clark’s performances last season also saw her join WNBA stars A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart as she looks to win the NCAA championship in her final year in college.