Sports
Paige Bueckers leads big women’s March Madness TV ratings in post-Caitlin Clark era
If you are reading this, you likely know who Paige Bueckers is. Maybe you are also familiar with Lauren Betts, Maddie Booker and MiLaysia Fulwiley.
But Meg Aronowitz, a senior vice president of production for ESPN and the company’s point person for its women’s basketball coverage, cannot afford to make a similar supposition. When the women’s Final Four games air on Friday (7 p.m. ET and 9:30 p.m. ET), she and her ESPN colleagues have to cater, at least in part, to the casual viewer who might watch only one or two women’s basketball games each year.
“This is the part of the tournament where we have to absolutely remind ourselves that this is an entirely new audience joining us,” Aronowitz said. “I know that that sounds very TV cliche, but we have to teach them who these stars are. I tell my people — repeat your best stuff. New viewers are tuning in every round, and we have to make sure that we are giving people a reason to come back on Sunday for the title game.”
We have reached the most interesting part of this tournament as far as a media-centric examination. Why? Because of last year’s outlier viewership. ESPN executives know that it will be impossible to duplicate the Final Four viewership numbers from a year ago — and that is a direct result of Caitlin Clark not being in this tournament. Iowa’s win over UConn in the national semifinals set a then-new record for the most-watched women’s college basketball game in history with an average of 14.2 million viewers. It was ultimately topped by the 18.9 million viewers who watched the title game between Iowa and South Carolina. Yes, there are plenty of popular players in women’s basketball but only one viewership unicorn — that kid from Iowa with unlimited range.
But this year’s numbers present data points that speak to the growth of women’s college basketball writ large. The Elite Eight games averaged 2.9 million viewers, the second most-watched Elite Eight round on record, only behind the Clark-infused (6.2 million viewers) numbers from last year. Elite Eight games in 2025 were up 34 percent from 2023. ESPN said four of the top 10 Elite Eight games on record aired this year, including:
• LSU-UCLA (3.4 million viewers, No. 3 Elite Eight game all-time)
• Duke-SC (3.1 million, No. 4)
• UConn-USC (3.0 million, No. 6)
• TCU-Texas (2.3 million, No. 9)
The Sweet 16 round averaged 1.7 million viewers across ESPN’s networks, the second-most-watched Sweet 16 on record behind last year (which averaged 2.4 million viewers) and up 39 percent from 2023. This year delivered four of the top 10 Sweet 16 games of all time, including 2.9 million for Tennessee-Texas (No. 3) and 2.5 million for Notre Dame-TCU (No. 4).
The second round of the women’s tournament averaged 982,000 viewers, the second-most-watched second round on record behind the 1.4 million viewer average last year. It was up 60 percent from 2023.
The first round of the women’s tournament averaged 367,000 viewers. That’s down 22 percent from 471,000 last year (as expected without Clark) but up 43 percent from 2023.
Heading into the Final Four, all games have averaged 967,000 viewers, up 47 percent from 2023.
“People came to the women’s Final Four last year because they wanted to see what Caitlin Clark would do,” Aronowitz said. “But it wasn’t just the Iowa games that were rating. The entire tournament rated for us, and it is our job to make sure that we continue to tell the stories of the teams and these student-athletes and give people a reason to stick around.”
ESPN will focus a ton this weekend on Bueckers because stars draw people in. The UConn star had 40 points in the Sweet 16 win over Oklahoma and 31 points against USC on Monday. She is averaging 29 points per game in the tournament.
We’ll never know, given the devastating ACL injury to USC star JuJu Watkins, but you can imagine that the Elite Eight game featuring a healthy Watkins and Bueckers might have become the most-watched Elite Eight game in history.
“Everybody’s talking about Paige,” said Aronowitz. “It’s not ‘Paige Bueckers.’ It’s just ‘Paige.’ When you get to that point where you are first name only, that’s when you know, wow, people are starting to pay attention. The story that comes along with her, all of the injuries, the playing through COVID and the resilience of this young woman, that’s a story that will get people to want to watch. So we are thrilled to have Paige in Tampa.”
(For fans of Watkins, Aronowitz said that ESPN’s women’s basketball group is going to make it a focus to document her return. Said Aronowitz: “We are going to document her journey to recovery, and we can’t wait till there’s a time where she’s got a spring in her step and she’s back out on the court and we get to be able to talk about her success and recovery.”)
As ESPN has seen more success with the women’s Final Four, the investment in technology increases. Aronowitz said this year’s Final Four will be in high dynamic range (HDR), a first for the women’s game. The production has 45 cameras in total, including more super slow-mo and high-frame-rate cameras than ever before.
These are all signs of growth. The interesting number for me will be how the Final Four and title game tracks not against 2023 but the 2022 title game, which we can call the “PTC Era” (Prior To Caitlin). That title game — a 64-49 South Carolina win over Bueckers and UConn — averaged 4.85 million viewers. At the time, it was the most-watched women’s title game since 2004, and the fourth-largest audience to watch a women’s championship game since 1996. The UConn-Stanford national semifinal in 2022 drew 3.23 million viewers, which was the most-watched women’s semifinal game in the PTC era since 2012.
These are the numbers to beat — and I think this Final Four and championship game will do it comfortably.
(Photo: Alika Jenner / Getty Images)
Sports
US lifts costly visa bond requirement for some World Cup travelers, Trump administration says
FIFA World Cup 2026 countdown: New York, New Jersey prepare
Alex Lasry, CEO of the NYNJ Host Committee, discusses the countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in New York and New Jersey. He details plans for free fan experiences across five boroughs and New Jersey, emphasizing public transit solutions for 1.2 million fans. Lasry confirms real grass will be installed at MetLife Stadium for the event, highlighting the global excitement for this major sporting event.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Citizens of a select group of countries who have purchased tickets to this summer’s World Cup matches in the U.S. will no longer be required to provide thousands of dollars in visa bonds to enter the country and attend the tournament.
On Wednesday, the State Department confirmed the Trump administration is waiving a prior mandate requiring visitors from Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Tunisia to post visa bonds of up to $15,000 to enter the U.S.
The department imposed the bond requirement last year for countries it said had high rates of visa overstays and other security concerns as part of a broader immigration crackdown. Travelers from at least 50 countries are subject to the bond requirement, but the five aforementioned nations’ teams have qualified for this year’s World Cup.
The FIFA World Cup Trophy is displayed outside the White House in Washington, D.C., ahead of the FIFA World Cup Draw on Dec. 2, 2025. (Michael Regan/FIFA/Getty Images)
World Cup team players, coaches and some staff already had been exempt from the bond requirement as part of the administration’s orders to prioritize the processing of visas for the tournament.
STATE DEPT TO START ROLLING OUT FIFA PASS FOR FOREIGN SOCCER FANS LOOKING TO ATTEND WORLD CUP IN US
“The United States is excited to organize the biggest and best FIFA World Cup in history,” Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Mora Namdar said. “We are waiving visa bonds for qualified fans who bought World Cup tickets” and opted in to the FIFA Pass system that allows expedited visa appointments as of April 15.
In its own statement, FIFA said the announcement shows “our ongoing collaboration with the U.S. government and the White House task force for the FIFA World Cup to deliver a successful, record-breaking and unforgettable global event” and thanked the administration for the partnership.
President Donald Trump draws the United States card during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Draw at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 5, 2025. (Michael Regan/FIFA via Getty Images)
However, the administration has barred travelers from Iran and Haiti, though World Cup players, coaches and other support personnel are exempt. Travelers from the Ivory Coast and Senegal face partial restrictions under an expanded version of that travel ban, even without the visa bond exemption.
The World Cup begins June 11 and is co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Some measures from the administration prompted Amnesty International and dozens of U.S. civil and human rights groups to issue a “World Cup travel advisory” that warns travelers about the climate in the U.S.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino hands the FIFA World Cup Winners Trophy to President Donald Trump during an announcement in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 22, 2025. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)
In a report this month, the main advocacy group for U.S. hotels blamed visa barriers and other geopolitical issues for “significantly suppressing international demand,” leading to hotel bookings for the soccer tournament that are far below what had initially been anticipated.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
As of early April, the number of World Cup fans affected by the bond requirement was believed to be relatively small, perhaps only about 250 people, according to U.S. officials who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. But they said that number was changing rapidly as more people buy tickets and some with tickets opt against traveling.
FIFA had requested the waiver, which had to be approved by the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security, officials said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
CITY SECTION BASEBALL PLAYOFFS
WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS
Quarterfinals
OPEN DIVISION
#8 Wilmington Banning at #1 Birmingham, Thursday
#4 Carson 6, #5 Garfield 5
#6 Granada Hills 2, #3 Bell 0
#2 El Camino Real 11, #7 South Gate 0 (5 innings)
First Round
DIVISION I
#1 Sylmar 7, #16 LA Marshall 0
#8 Chatsworth 5, #9 North Hollywood 4
#5 Sun Valley Poly 1, #12 LA University 0 (8 innings)
#13 Verdugo Hills at #4 LACES
#3 Venice 11, #14 San Fernando 8
#6 Palisades 1, #11 Narbonne 0 (8 innings)
#10 Taft 13, #7 San Pedro 9
#2 Cleveland 18, #15 Maywood CES 0 (5 innings)
DIVISION II
#16 Granada Hills Kennedy 13, #1 Monroe 3
#8 Port of Los Angeles 5, #9 Bravo 3
#5 LA Roosevelt 17, #12 Northridge Academy 0
#4 LA Wilson 10, #13 Legacy 9
#3 Torres 5, #14 Vaughn 0
#6 South East 7, #11 Rancho Dominguez 1
#7 Franklin 1, #10 Downtown Magnets 0
#2 Sherman Oaks CES 3, #15 Chavez 0
THURSDAY’S SCHEDULE
(Games at 3 p.m. unless noted)
Second Round
DIVISION III
#16 Fairfax at #1 WISH Academy
#9 LA Hamilton at #8 Fulton
#13 Westchester vs. #4 Sotomayor at Arroyo Park
#21 King/Drew at #5 Sun Valley Magnet
#11 Eagle Rock vs. Triumph Charter at SIBL, 2:30 p.m.
#19 Arleta at #3 Marquez
#23 Gardena at #7 Fremont
#15 Roybal at #2 Van Nuys
Note: Divisions I-III quarterfinals May 16; Divisions II-III semifinals May 19; Open and Division I semifinals May 20 at 2:30 and 5:30 p.m. at TBD; Open and Division I finals May 23 at Dodger Stadium (times TBD).
Sports
Mets get unlikely assist from umpire collision as Tigers baserunner is thrown out at home plate in key moment
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
The New York Mets’ offseason priority for this year was run prevention, and with a little help from an umpire, that’s exactly what they got.
Just about everything has gone badly for the Mets this season, as they boast one of the league’s worst records at 16-25 despite their league-high $334.8 million payroll.
But finally, something broke their way.
Detroit Tigers third baseman Colt Keith is tagged out by New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez while trying to score during the fifth inning at Citi Field in New York City on May 12, 2026. (John Jones/Imagn Images)
The Mets led the Detroit Tigers, 3-2, in the top of the fifth inning when Detroit’s Riley Greene singled into right field, and Colt Keith headed to third.
Keith was safe, beating the throw that got away from third base, so Keith took a gamble and started sprinting toward home.
Detroit Tigers third baseman Colt Keith hits a single against the New York Mets during the fifth inning at Citi Field in New York City on May 12, 2026. (John Jones/Imagn Images)
EX-MLB PITCHER ACCUSED OF ‘CONTROLLING BEHAVIOR’ IN UGLY DIVORCE BATTLE AMID NUMEROUS 911 CALLS TO HOME
However, when Keith started heading toward the plate, he crossed paths with third-base umpire Rob Drake. The two collided, and Drake fell right to the infield grass.
That held Keith up for just a couple of seconds, and it was enough for Keith to be thrown out by pitcher Freddy Peralta at home, ending the inning and killing a rally the Tigers could have needed.
The game wound up getting away from the Tigers later, as the Mets scored three runs in both the sixth and eighth innings, and the Mets’ bullpen was able to hold Detroit scoreless for the rest of the game for a 10-2 New York win.
Colt Keith of the Detroit Tigers reacts during the game against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia, on April 29, 2026. (Kathryn Skeean/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
The Mets are the owners of the league’s longest losing streak of the season at 12 games, but they have now won six of their last 10 as they desperately try to turn things around.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
-
Iowa2 minutes ago
Democrats will debate in Iowa US Senate primary shaped by outside money and big-name endorsements
-
Kansas8 minutes agoKHP says 135 spill was human waste
-
Kentucky14 minutes agoWhich Kentucky Derby horses are running in the 2026 Preakness Stakes?
-
Louisiana20 minutes agoLouisiana National Guard troops return to Washington for Trump task force
-
Maine26 minutes agoA top issue in Maine and Oklahoma governors’ races? Tribal sovereignty. – ICT
-
Maryland32 minutes agoMaryland Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for May 13, 2026
-
Michigan38 minutes agoPuppies, prom and pancakes: What to do in West Michigan this weekend
-
Massachusetts44 minutes agoBattenfeld: Have Massachusetts voters finally had enough of soft on crime?
