Without question, Sue Bird is one of the greatest players in WNBA history (and my forever GOAT). She called it a career after 22 seasons in the league, all with the Seattle Storm. Bird is now on a new court with “A Touch More” (ATM) podcast with partner and former USWNT star Megan Rapinoe. The podcast was live in conjunction with TOGETHXR at the NCAAW Final Four in Cleveland, Ohio as Bird shared her thoughts on numerous topics.
Sue Bird on Women’s Sports by the Numbers
The WNBA assists leader shared some numbers with the live crowd at Cleveland. It focused on the matchup between Iowa and LSU in the Elite Eight of the NCAAW Tournament:
“Elite Eight game Iowa versus LSU averaged 12 million viewers. The most-watched college basketball game ever on an ESPN platform. The most-watched college basketball game ever on an ESPN platform. That’s crazy. It peaked at 16 million…The highest audience for any basketball game since 2012. It was crazy.”
Sue Bird on the A Touch More podcast about Iowa-LSU viewership
That game featured two of the best players in NCAAW basketball: Iowa guard Caitlin Clark and LSU forward Angel Reese. For Clark, it was must-see TV as the viewership followed the star in the Final Four and the National Championship game
The final three games of Caitlin Clark's career at Iowa all broke the record for most-watched women's college basketball game 🔥 @CaitlinClark22
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) April 8, 2024
📺 12.3 million vs. LSU
📺 14.2 million vs. UConn
📺 18.7 million vs. South Carolina pic.twitter.com/lgzZxN0Vx7
Like Bird was in the 2002 WNBA Draft, Clark is likely to be the No. 1 overall in this year’s WNBA Draft. Also, Reese is projected to go in the top 10. This is according to my colleague Todd Roman and his WNBA Mock Draft.
Bird and Rapinoe were joined by the Big 3 on the podcast
Photo Credit: A Touch More podcast
What’s more, the power couple was joined by ESPN’s Chiney Ogwumike, Andraya Carter, and Elle Duncan. During the interview, Ogwumike spoke on the state of NCAAW basketball while mentioning Clark, Reese, and UConn standout Paige Bueckers:
“I think we’re at a really special point where our synergy as analysts, as hosts, matches the product on the court. Meaning Angel Reese being unapologetically herself, Caitlin Clark looking at the camera saying, “yeah, that’s me. I did that.” You know what I mean? Paige Bueckers to just show up considering how many people counted them out based off their bodies. We just feel like we want to do the game justice.”
ESPN anaylst Chiney Ogwumike
Carter added:
“I think that’s the biggest thing is we can be ourselves. And we’re all so different, but I hope people that watch us on the stage togeher, they’re like, “Oh, I want to be on TV and be myself. I don’t want to be like Dray. I don’t want to be like Chiney. I just want to feel as good as they feel on air. But the only reason we feel as good as we feel is because we can be ourselves.”
ESPN analyst Andraya Carter
Closing Thoughts and a Simple Message from a GOAT
Overall, the success of this season’s Final Four was bigger than basketball in women’s sports. From this fan’s point of view, it was a message that all that was needed was a big stage and opportunity. There is a hope that this momentum will continue on beyond this year. As Bird said in the episode:
“Everybody watches women’s sports.”
Despite Clark and Reese’s absence next season, Bueckers and others like JuJu Watkins of USC, Hannah Hidalgo of Notre Dame, and Madison Booker of Texas will carry the mantle. Women’s sports have (and will) always matter.
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