Caitlin Clark's NCAA record-breaking game vs. Ohio State averaged nearly 3.4 million viewers Sunday

Iowa superstar Caitlin Clark cemented her legacy as one of the best college athletes of all time this Sunday, becoming the all-time leading scorer in Division I college basketball history across men’s and women’s basketball. Surpassing LSU‘s Pete Maravich as she now sits atop the college hoops mountaintop with 3,685 career points.

Her impact on the court has always been evident, but off the court, it may be even larger. Which can be seen with the record-breaking viewership numbers that went along with her historic game on Sunday versus Ohio State.

Iowa’s matchup on Sunday versus the Buckeyes averaged a 1.9 rating and 3.39 million viewers on FOX, ranking as the most-watched regular season women’s game dating back to at least 2010 according to Sports Media Watch. As millions tuned in to watch Clark break a record that stood for over 50 years.

Across men’s and women’s basketball Clark’s record-breaking game ranks second amongst all college basketball games in viewership this season, only trailing Michigan State and Arizona‘s matchup on Thanksgiving (which had a direct lead in from the Lions and Packers NFL game). Also marking the most watched basketball game of the day topping Sunday’s NBA matchup between the Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors.

The phrase ‘The Caitlin Clark Effect’ has been coined throughout Clark’s storied career, drawing record viewership and attendance at basketball games as she’s become one of the most prominent figures in women’s college basketball history. Bringing an unprecedented amount of attention to the game while inspiring young female athletes along the way.

This season the Hawkeyes regularly sold out both home and away games thanks to Clark, breaking the single-game attendance record in their exhibition game versus DePaul to start the season with 55,646 fans in attendance at Kinnick Stadium where the Hawkeyes’ host football games.

Iowa also averaged 100% fan attendance in their home games this season, ranking second across women’s basketball in accumulative home attendance at 209,972 this year only trailing top-ranked South Carolina, whose home arena seats 3,000 more fans.

Clark breaking ‘Pistol’ Pete Maravich’s record may be the most impressive feat of her storied career, adding to her lengthy resume of broken records, accolades, and accomplishments. But her impact on women’s college basketball is both immense and immeasurable, as many are curious if she can have the same impact at the WNBA level after recently declaring for the WNBA Draft.

And seeing that the season ticket prices of the Indiana Fever (who possess the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming draft) have doubled following Clark’s declaration, it’s safe to anticipate that the Caitlin Clark Effect will trickle to the professional level.