Caitlin Clark is taking the Iowa Hawkeyes’ women’s NCAA tournament championship game loss in stride.
A day after the Hawkeyes were defeated by the South Carolina Gamecocks 87-75, ESPN announced that it was the most-watched basketball game since 2019.
Citing data from Nielsen, the sports media company explained on Monday, April 8, that the game broke viewership records, averaging 18.7 million viewers on ABC and ESPN.
“18.7 MILLION 🔥,” wrote Clark, 22, on X, formerly Twitter, after the announcement.
Advertisement
According to ESPN, “The only sporting events in the United States to draw a bigger TV audience since 2019 have been football, the World Cup, and the Olympics.”
Clark can also celebrate that she and her team played in the three most-watched women’s basketball games.
ESPN reported that the second most-watched women’s basketball game after Sunday’s game is Iowa’s 71-69 win against UConn on Friday, April 5, which averaged 14.2 million viewers. In third place is Iowa’s 94-87 win against the LSU Tigers on Monday, April 1, drawing in 12.3 million viewers.
Caitlin Clark shoots during Sunday’s NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament National Championship.
Advertisement
Ben Solomon/NCAA Photos via Getty
After Sunday’s loss, Clark shared on X that “words cannot express my love for my teammates, coaches, fans and our university.”
“Thanks for making my dreams come true. Wearing Iowa across my chest the last four years has been an honor. This place will always be home,” her post continued.
She also received support from her boyfriend, Connor McCaffery, who wrote in an Instagram Stories post next to a photo of her leaving the court on Sunday, “My GOAT.”
Advertisement
Clark said goodbye to her collegiate jersey in an Instagram Stories post on Monday, writing on top of a photo of it on the floor next to a pair of sneakers, “I’ll miss ya.”
The athlete will step into the next phase of her career when the 2024 WNBA Draft takes place on Monday, April 15.
The sports star announced that she was entering the draft back in February, showing gratitude to her family and fans in a passionate post on X.
Aerial view of Iowa Hawkeyes competing against the South Carolina Gamecocks on Sunday, April 7.
C. Morgan Engel/NCAA Photos via Getty
Advertisement
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
“None of this would have been possible without my family and friends who have been by my side through it all. Because of you, my dreams cam true,” Clark wrote.
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday
Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US
Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US
The entire police department of a small South Carolina town resigned en masse, leaving the area without its own dedicated police force.
Chief Bob Hale of the McColl Police Department announced his resignation on November 21 in a social media post, citing a “hostile work environment perpetuated by a specific Councilman.”
“For months, I have endured unwarranted and malicious behavior aimed at undermining my integrity and leadership,” Hale wrote. “These actions have not only affected me personally but have also created a toxic atmosphere that has hindered the department’s ability to function effectively.”
The chief also said his department’s resources had been severely cut. The four officers under his command quickly resigned as well.
Advertisement
“At the end of the day, I have a family. And when my job is constantly getting threatened and certain things are getting said I’m not going to stay somewhere and tolerate that,” former McColl investigator Courtney Bulusan told WRAL.
“I’m not going to stay where I’m tolerated,” Bulusan said. “I’m going to go where I’m celebrated.”
As the town seeks new officers, the Marlboro County Sheriff’s Office will fill in for the department police force, according to South Carolina Public Radio.
The town has gone through six chiefs in the past four years. Hale’s tenure in the position lasted little over a year.
“I feel unsafe. Very unsafe,” resident Lisa Bowen told local outlet WPDE. “Because anytime anybody could do anything.”
Advertisement
“They jump ship back and forth all the time,” Mayor George Garner told the Post and Courier newspaper. “This is nothing new.”
The paper reported that the councilman in question denied he had harassed any of the officers and told the paper the allegations were “hearsay.”
Such mass resignations, while uncommon, are not unprecedented.
The entire police force of Geary, Oklahoma, resigned earlier this month, Fox News reports.
UCLA’s win over No. 1 ranked South Carolina wasn’t a fluke, and Bruins center Lauren Betts says if you haven’t been paying attention, now would be the time to.
Let’s say the thing. It was not close on Sunday. From the opening tip to the final buzzer, UCLA commanded the floor and had an answer for everything the Gamecocks tried to do. The Bruins beat South Carolina on the boards (41-34), held four starters to under five points, and *checks notes* not a single starter went to the free-throw line. UGLY STUFF.
Furthermore, five UCLA players scored in double figures, including Londynn Jones, who was sensational from the line with five 3-pointers, and star center Lauren Betts, who had 11 points, 14 rebounds, four assists and four blocks. WHEW. Postgame, Betts raved about her team and how proud she was, but she also sent a direct warning to college basketball. “If you’ve been sleeping on UCLA,” Betts said. “You need to stop right now.”
Clemson football looks to win its second straight Palmetto Bowl.
The No. 12 Tigers (9-2) faces in-state rival No. 14 South Carolina (8-3) on Saturday (noon ET, ESPN) at Memorial Stadium. This will be the 121st meeting between these two programs and one of the highest-ranked rivalry games in Week 14.
There are still tickets available for Clemson’s last game in Death Valley in the regular season. Here are the best prices for remaining seats.
Advertisement
See Clemson ticket prices for every game this season
Clemson tickets vs South Carolina
Ticket prices for Clemson’s final home game against South Carolina on Saturday start at $175 on StubHub and at $167 on VividSeats. Prices in the lower bowl range from $224 to over $1000 on both sites.
To see a full list of ticket prices, visit StubHub or VividSeats.
MORE: Why Clemson showcases patriotism before football games at Memorial Stadium
Advertisement
Clemson football schedule 2024
Aug. 31: Georgia 34, Clemson 3
Sept. 7: Clemson 66, Appalachian State 20
Sept. 21: Clemson 59, NC State 35
Sept. 28: Clemson 40, Stanford 14
Oct. 5: Clemson 29, Florida State 13
Oct. 12: Clemson 49, Wake Forest 14
Oct. 19: Clemson 48, Virginia 31
Nov. 2: Louisville 33, Clemson 21
Nov. 9: Clemson 24, Virginia Tech 14
Nov. 16: Clemson 24, Pitt 20
Nov. 23: Clemson 51, The Citadel 14
Nov. 30: vs. No. 14 South Carolina, noon ET (ESPN)
South Carolina football 2024 schedule
Aug. 31: South Carolina 23, Old Dominion 19
Sept. 7: South Carolina 31, Kentucky 6
Sept. 14: LSU 36, South Carolina 33
Sept. 21: South Carolina 50, Akron 7
Oct. 5: Ole Miss 27, South Carolina 3
Oct. 12: Alabama 27, South Carolina 25
Oct. 19: South Carolina 35, Oklahoma 9
Nov. 2: South Carolina 44, Texas A&M 20
Nov. 9: South Carolina 28, Vanderbilt 7
Nov. 16: South Carolina 34, Missouri 30
Nov. 23: South Carolina 56, Wofford 12
Nov. 30: at No. 12 Clemson, noon ET (ESPN)
We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x0:751x2)/Iowa-vs--South-Carolina31-04082024-8fba0f463a8042e38cb416c096c1256e.jpg "Iowa vs. South Carolina Women’s National Championship Game Smashes Records with 18.7M Viewers — and Caitlin Clark Is Pumped!")
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25758299/2023738908.jpg "Rivian gets .6 billion government loan to build its EV factory in Georgia")
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25739950/247386_Elon_Musk_Open_AI_CVirginia.jpg "Inside Elon Musk’s messy breakup with OpenAI")
