South Carolina-Texas women’s basketball game sets ESPN viewership high for this season
Women’s basketball was front and center on ESPN this past Sunday ahead of Super Bowl LIX.
The matinee matchup between South Carolina and Texas drew over 1 million viewers, according to ESPN public relations. At one point the game peaked at a whopping 1.3 million viewers, ESPN PR said Tuesday.
That makes it the most-watched college women’s basketball game on ESPN this season.
“Quite honestly, we’re it right now, Women’s basketball is it right now,” Staley said after the game. “They’re not gonna put just any women’s game on to be be a prelude to the Super Bowl. They put it on because they know the ratings will be there. They knew it was going to be a tightly matched basketball game.”
South Carolina ultimately lost the top five showdown 66-62 in Austin. As a result the then-No. 2 Gamecocks dropped to No. 4 in this week’s Associated Press Top 25 while the Longhorns moved up from No. 4 to No. 3 in the rankings.
The Gamecocks will look to bounce back from the loss on Thursday at home against Florida. After that, anther ranked showdown in Colonial Life Arena is sure to draw lots of eyes when South Carolina takes on No. 7 UConn.
South Carolina schedule: Next four games
- Thursday: vs. Florida, 7 p.m. (SEC Network)
- Feb. 16: vs. UConn, 1 p.m. (ABC)
- Feb. 20: vs. Arkansas, 7 p.m. (SEC Network)
- Feb. 23: at Vanderbilt, 3 p.m. (SEC Network Plus)
This story was originally published February 11, 2025 at 1:50 PM.
