Overview

• The 2025 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament begins this week, featuring UConn’s Paige Bueckers and USC’s JuJu Watkins as marquee players driving significant attention.
• Last year’s women’s championship game outdrew the men’s final in viewership for the first time, solidifying the tournament’s increasing popularity.
• Ad costs for the women’s championship game have surged to $438,692 for a 30-second spot, reflecting its growing commercial value.
• The NCAA has introduced financial payments to women’s teams for participating in March Madness, marking a key step toward equity in college sports.
• ESPN’s expanded coverage and increased ratings over recent seasons underscore the sustained growth of women’s basketball as a major sporting event.