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UCLA’s women’s basketball title win over South Carolina averages 9.9 million viewers

By The Associated Press

BRISTOL, Conn. (AP) — UCLA’s 79-51 victory over South Carolina for its first NCAA women’s basketball title on Sunday averaged 9.9 million viewers on ESPN and ABC, making it the third most-viewed women’s championship game since ESPN started televising the tournament in 1996.

It was the most-watched sports event of the past week according to Nielsen, and a 15% increase from last year’s game between UConn and South Carolina.

Sunday’s audience peaked at 10.7 million viewers at the conclusion despite the Bruins holding a significant lead in the second half.

Friday night’s national semifinals averaged 5.2 million on ESPN, the second most-watched since 1996. South Carolina’s win over UConn and UCLA’s victory over Texas ranking as the fourth- and fifth-most watched semifinal games on ESPN.

This year’s tournament on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 averaged 1.3 million viewers, a 5% increase over last year. ABC and ESPN aired 41 of the 58 games.

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AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

Cheryl Reeve steps away from the WNBA grind for a Hall of Fame induction

By The Associated Press
Cheryl Reeve is taking a break from her busy WNBA season to head to Knoxville this weekend and be inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. She's only the second WNBA coach to enter the Hall of Fame, joining former Houston Comets coach Van Chancellor, who was inducted in 2001. “(I appreciate) the magnitude of this recognition of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame and the great work that has gone into this institution,” Reeve said. “To walk around and see the history of how much has been done years before I could ever have this opportunity to coach. Grateful to the WNBA because I think there was some consideration given schedule wise.” Reeve will be joined by WNBA greats Candace Parker and Elena Delle Donne in this year's class. Parker and Delle Donne also will be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame later this year. Other inductees include ESPN broadcaster Doris Burke, Kirkwood Community College coach Kim Muhl, Spanish star Amaya Valdemoro, French great Isabelle Fijalkowski and Clemson's all-time leading scorer and rebounder, Barbara Kennedy-Dixon.
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