More Viewers Watched LSU-South Carolina Women’s Game Than Celtics-Heat TNT Broadcast

The battle of the last two national champions was popular among viewers.

Women’s college basketball has grown in popularity over the past few decades, and the sport hit another milestone on Thursday night. ESPN broadcasted a College GameDay episode live from Baton Rouge ahead of No. 9 LSU vs. No. 1 South Carolina, and the game won the night among national sports.

South Carolina’s 76–70 win over LSU officially averaged 1.56 million viewers, topping the NBA’s matchup between the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat on TNT at the same time, which only averaged 1.38 million viewers, according to Sports Media Watch.

The rivalry between South Carolina and LSU has quickly become a staple in women’s college basketball, as it is a matchup between each of the last two national champions. The Gamecocks are 18–0 to begin this season, while the Tigers are 18–3, cementing both teams in the national championship conversation again.

South Carolina's win at LSU out-rated Celtics-Heat on Thursday night :: Matthew Hinton/USA Today sports

Meanwhile, Celtics-Heat was a rematch of the last two Eastern Conference finals, and while Boston blew out Miami 143–110, it is still notable that LSU-South Carolina beat out a battle between two prominent NBA franchises. The game was the second-most watched women’s college basketball regular season game since 2010, trailing just No. 12 Ohio State’s 100-92 overtime victory over No. 5 Iowa on Sunday.

South Carolina and LSU will not meet again this regular season, but the Gamecocks do have another high-profile matchup against No. 8 UConn in February.