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Women's gymnastics final viewership topped massive U.S. sporting events
Concerns over viewership numbers for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris were greatly exaggerated.
A massive audience of 12.7 million viewers tuned in to see Team USA win the gold medal on Tuesday in the women's gymnastics all-around final. That number tops several of the most significant sporting events in the U.S., including every game of the 2023-24 NBA Finals and the first round of this year's NFL Draft.
Live coverage of women's gymnastics final at Paris Olympics on Tuesday afternoon (12:15-2:30pm ET) averaged 12.7 million viewers on NBC/Peacock
— Austin Karp (@AustinKarp) July 31, 2024
Beats out:
Every game of the 2024 NBA Finals
First round of the 2024 NFL Draft pic.twitter.com/xEdqGPlNs6
A scheduling gap between the conference championships and the NBA Finals, paired with a lopsided series, may have impacted viewership. But, according to Forbes, an average of 11.3 million viewers watched the Boston Celtics defeat the Dallas Mavericks in five games, the lowest since 2021.
The 2024 NFL Draft drew record crowds in Detroit and was also the highest-rated since 2021, attracting 12.1 million viewers combined on ESPN, ABC, NFL Network and ESPN Deportes, per Sports Media Watch. It may not be comparable to the wild numbers the Super Bowl gains, but Team USA still beat out one of the biggest nights on the growing juggernauts' calendar.
Meanwhile, Team USA won in a landslide compared to the World Series and Stanley Cup Final.
The most recent World Series, which pitted the eventual champion Texas Rangers against the Arizona Diamondbacks, had an average of 9.1 million viewers, the lowest in the Fall Classic's history. Conversely, a 58 percent bump in ratings (4.2 million viewers on average) for this year's thrilling seven-game Stanley Cup Final won by the Florida Panthers over the Edmonton Oilers didn't come close to sniffing Team USA's number.
It's not a coincidence but a blossoming trend as women's sports continue to explode in popularity.
In the WNBA, Caitlin Clark's arrival has driven interest and viewership. While the Indiana Fever's star rookie might be the driving force, she isn't the only reason behind the league's growth. This year, it has more than tripled its viewership from 440,000 to 1.4 million, which undoubtedly helped lead to a lucrative 11-year, $2.2 billion media rights deal.
The WNBA may be leading the charge so far. However, women's gymnastics gaining so much attention on a Tuesday afternoon is yet another promising sign for the rise of female athletics at all levels.
More must-reads:
- Team USA wins gold in women's team gymnastics
- Simone Biles shades ex-teammate with social-media post
- The 'Summer Olympics all-time medal leader' quiz
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