On Monday evening, more than 12 million people tuned in to see Iowa defeat Tigers in the Elite Eight. Thousands more will probably return for women’s league’s Final Four this trip. Therefore what?
Since the Hawkeyes and Tigers ‘ 2023 title match broke records and altered the narrative surrounding women’s rings, WNBA CMO Phil Cook has been considering that question for the past few weeks as well as over the past year.
Immediately, LSU hero Angel Reese and Iowa star Caitlin Clark will play against the benefits. Like, pretty soon. Unlike other activities, women’s sport’s professional review comes a year after its school championship game and a fortnight before the start of the season. The growing market in each round of the NCAA Tournament highlights the power of off-court speed, despite the popular hand on the jury still provoking sincere discussion.

Cook hopes to keep that game rolling.
The WNBA increased its summer advertising budget this year to include the NCAA Tournament. It unveiled a number of advertisements it created last year with Wieden+Kennedy, a company that is well known for its long-standing partnership with Nike.
” We wanted to build our company campaign when the energy and enthusiasm were at their highest,” Cook said.
The spots center around a” Welcome to the W” message that is meant to draw attention to the incoming class without ignoring the current stars like Breanna Stewart, Arike Ogunbowale, and A’ja Wilson. Cook even anticipates that the fresh motto will appeal to approaching fans and businesses.
” This is a big moment for us to really talk to the followers of sports, the fans of big game times”, Cook said. ” March Madness is this large time, not only for women’s sports, but just for a sporting expert”.
ESPN has been spreading its baseball-related text for an even longer period of time. All year, the organization, which has aired 25 WNBA games every in recent years, has been dropping W hints into its school broadcasts, referencing players ‘ expected review location or how they compare to WNBA greats.
Sara Gaiero, ESPN VP, production, assumed responsibility for NCAA women’s basketball in addition to WNBA content in 2023, which facilitated greater unit collaboration.
” We keep calling it’ bridge the gap,'” Gaiero said. ” I have hope that the viewership trends and how people are even talking about women’s basketball— I really believe that that will continue”.
In addition to covering college and professional women’s basketball, ESPN features many of the same faces and voices. Fans can expect plenty of them to come out in the pro season after the breakout success of studio trio Elle Duncan, Andraya Carter, and Chiney Ogwumike during this year’s NCAA Tournament.
This weekend, Indiana Fever forward ( and all- but- certain to be Clark’s future teammate ) Aliyah Boston will join ESPN’s Final Four coverage, closing the divide even further.
Advertisers have also stepped up the pressure. Reebok’s message in response to Reese’s draft declaration was simple:” Keep Watching”.

There are reasons why the WNBA is trying to catch up with women’s basketball, which started off at the college level. With only 12 pro teams, there are far fewer touchpoints around the country. Among this year’s Final Four, only UConn also has a W franchise in its home state. The league’s playoffs, which begin just as the NFL season begins, have a relatively low interest and visibility.
Due to several factors, amateur and international women’s sports competitions—from the Olympics to the U. S. women’s national soccer team to NCAA hoops—continue drawing the largest audiences, to the point where some openly doubted if it even made financial sense in the NIL era for America’s top college basketball players to leave school.
Both Clark and Reese have accepted the challenge. And who is now left to doubt them?