In a historic turn of events, the superstar women’s college basketball matchups on Monday night not only drew in viewers but also set new records in sports betting. FanDuel reported that the Louisiana State University versus Iowa game was its biggest betting event ever for women’s sports. This surge in betting activity comes at a time when women’s sports are experiencing an inflection point, attracting larger audiences and garnering more interest than ever before. The emergence of once-in-a-lifetime superstar talents like Caitlin Clark and the increasing valuations of women’s sports franchises have played a significant role in this shift.
According to ESPN, the viewership of the women’s Sweet 16 games reached an all-time high, experiencing a 96% increase from the previous year. This spike in viewership has not only translated to the screens but has also spilled over into the sportsbooks with record levels of activity on women’s sports. Despite these numbers, the American Gaming Association reports that only 26% of bettors are women, highlighting a massive opportunity for sportsbooks to tap into this growing market.
The Monday night matchup between LSU and Iowa featured a heated rematch between two storied franchises, star players Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, and coaching legend Kim Mulkey. This combination of factors propelled the game to become the most heavily bet event of the day, surpassing all NBA, MLB, and NHL games. The handle for the LSU-Iowa game saw a 28% increase compared to the previous year’s Women’s National Championship game. The later matchup between UConn and USC also drew significant attention, with star player Paige Bueckers leading her team to victory.
Both FanDuel and DraftKings reported a surge in women’s basketball betting on Monday night, with the games ranking as their top events ahead of major MLB and NBA games. In fact, DraftKings mentioned that the handle for these women’s basketball games was comparable to many NFL games from the previous season. BetMGM also saw a significant increase in betting activity, labeling the Iowa-LSU matchup as its most bet-on women’s basketball game to date.
As the women’s Final Four approaches, sportsbooks are gearing up for more action. FanDuel has designated Iowa as a 2.5 point favorite over UConn, while South Carolina holds an 11.5 point advantage over NC State as the Wolfpack aims for an upset. The heightened interest and excitement surrounding women’s sports betting indicate a promising future for the industry, with fans demonstrating an unprecedented level of engagement.