When 9.9 million viewers tuned in to see the 2023 NCAA women’s basketball subject sport, some compared it to the 1979 men’s school baseball finals. The final game between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson is still considered the highest-rated NCAA championship match on record and that match started the Larry Bird and Magic Johnson career-long conflict.
Fans not witnessed a fight between two school players. Angel Reese vs. Caitlin Clark, nevertheless, will get a movie.
In one of the most highly anticipated college basketball game in recent memory, Reese’s Louisiana Tigers square off against Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes on Monday evening in the Elite Eight. It’s projected to be near, with a place spread of -1.5 supporting Iowa.
Last year’s last was n’t a toenail- biter, as Louisiana led by 17 at time and not looked up, but there was drama. Reese made a “you ca n’t see me” gesture toward the end of the game and pointed her to her ring finger, which some people found offensive, but Clark later defended Reese.

And this year has been remembered for keeping that standard high. ” Me and Caitlin Clark do n’t hate each other”, Reese said in a recent press conference.
Fans will undoubtedly get upset about the contest, even as the two players try to come out and say they have no issues off the judge. This take a look at how the two children’s hoops of school check in a few quantitative terms.
Ticket Income
In 2022- 23, the most recent year for which we have information in Sportico’s College Finance Database, the Iowa women’s basketball team made$ 1.44 million in ticket income, topping LSU’s$ 974, 000. The Hawkeyes placed second in the country in this group last year, only placing seventh overall, which is a sign of Clark’s rise in popularity. LSU, on the other hand, had previously ranked sixth the year before Reese transferred to the university, which was head coach Kim Mulkey’s first year with the software.
It’s reasonable to assume that Iowa’s solution sales increased this year because fans want to see past as Clark broke report after report this year.
Social Media
Reese and Clark each have more Instagram followers than any other player in this year’s tournament, man or woman, but the former is in a different stratosphere. Reese’s 2.7 million followers are more than double Clark’s 1.2 million. In the days following LSU’s 2023 championship win, Reese’s significant following increased, so the opportunity to develop their personal brand is only one more thing at stake in this year’s showdown.
Box Score
When it comes to scoring, there is no contest between the two superstars. This season, Clark averaged 31.7 points per game, breaking the all-time NCAA scoring record. Reese’s 18.7 points per game were actually down from the prior year, as the Tigers added several new players to their roster, including Hailey Van Lith, a transfer from Louisville. In addition, Reese was only a little above average in that group, while Clark ranked 13th among the 175 Division I players who averaged at least 15 points per game.
Even in LSU’s 102- 85 title game win last year, Clark outscored Reese 30 to 15.
Both players, however, excel in areas other than scoring. Clark led the nation in assists, while Reese was second in rebounding.
W/L Record
Reese’s fans, however, would tell you not to look at the box score, and instead look at the scoreboard. Her teams have a 4- 0 record in direct head- to- head matchups versus Clark, including three while Reese was at Maryland, with all of those victories coming by double- digits.
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