1. Decline in Women’s NCAA Tournament Ratings
Last year, Caitlin Clark’s presence during Iowa basketball games significantly boosted viewership, reminiscent of the impact Tiger Woods had on golf. As a result of her popularity, the previous women’s NCAA tournament attracted more viewers than the men’s, with the Iowa-South Carolina final attracting 18.9 million viewers compared to the Purdue-UConn men’s final’s 14.8 million.
With Clark now competing in the WNBA, this year’s women’s NCAA tournament saw a decrease in ratings. The two Final Four matchups this year drew only 4.1 million (UConn-UCLA) and 3.6 million (South Carolina-Texas) viewers, a stark contrast to last year’s Final Four, where Clark and Iowa played UConn, garnering 14.4 million viewers, while NC State-South Carolina attracted 7.2 million.
For those wanting to see the women’s tournament flourish, this substantial drop in viewership is disheartening. It’s astonishing that over 10 million viewers who watched Clark last season chose to skip this year’s Final Four, highlighting her unique appeal as a television star.
The disappointing trend continued as this year’s Final Four ratings were further reduced due to unexciting games. In 2023, the match between Iowa-South Carolina scored 5.6 million viewers, while LSU-Virginia Tech achieved 3.4 million, both well above this year’s figures.
A further setback occurred on Sunday when UConn’s championship win over South Carolina turned out to be a one-sided affair, resulting in a significant decline in viewership compared to the record numbers from last season. It’s a reminder of how remarkable Clark’s ability was to surpass the men’s tournament by more than four million viewers in the prior year.
2. Tribute to Greg Gumbel
CBS honored former NCAA tournament host Greg Gumbel with a touching tribute featuring numerous colleagues before the Final Four games, which is definitely worth watching.
3. Highlights from Final Four Commentary
During the two Final Four games on Saturday, Ian Eagle, Bill Raftery, and Grant Hill delivered an outstanding commentary. However, it was a significant oversight for CBS not to capture Mike Krzyzewski’s reactions during Duke’s dramatic loss in the closing moments against Houston.
Much like how broadcasters often show celebrities during key moments of games, significant figures on the sideline should also be included, especially when they play a notable role in the action.
4. Tom Brady’s Competitiveness
In his latest newsletter, Tom Brady revealed an amusing story about his competitive nature, recalling an incident from his childhood when he got so frustrated after losing a video game that he broke the controller. He humorously noted that his sisters frequently asked him, “What is wrong with you?” after such outbursts.
5. NHL Celebrates Alex Ovechkin
In recognition of Alex Ovechkin breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record, the NHL released a tribute video featuring a mix of legendary athletes, celebrities, and commentators, creating a star-studded celebration.
6. SI Media Podcast Features Ian Eagle and Bill Raftery
The latest episode of SI Media With Jimmy Traina features an interview with CBS commentators Ian Eagle and Bill Raftery, who discuss their long-standing partnership, humorous anecdotes, and insights about their roles in the NCAA tournament.
7. Random Video of the Day
As a throwback, it’s been a year since Cody Rhodes delivered a memorable moment at WrestleMania, marking a significant ending to his storyline.
Catch past editions of Traina Thoughts and the Sports Illustrated Media Podcast hosted by Jimmy Traina on platforms like Apple and Spotify.
