Sunday’s NCAA Basketball Women’s National Championship Game between South Carolina and Iowa set records as the most bet women’s sporting event in history.
The Gamecocks won the game, 87-75, finishing off a perfect season, and avenging their only loss in the last two seasons.
The championship concludes a tournament that included many compelling storylines, including the run by North Carolina State to the Final Four and Caitlin Clark’s last run at a championship.
It was also the first major sporting event since the launch of online sports betting in North Carolina.
According to FanDuel Sportsbook NC, the 2024 Women’s NCAA Basketball Tournament Final produced a 155% increase in total bet spending and a 205% increase in bet count, compared to the 2023 final.
2024 Women’s March Madness Tournament continues to set records
The final broke a record that was just set on Friday. The South Carolina/Iowa tilt is now the biggest women’s single betting event of all time, said FanDuel in a press statement, “breaking the handle record set by Friday night’s Final Four LSU v. Iowa game by 22%.”
The women’s final was the #1 betting event on FanDuel for Sunday.
BetMGM, Bet365 see record-setting action on Women’s Final Four
BetMGM Sportsbook NC, has also said that the event broke its record for the most bet women’s sporting event ever, according to a post on social media network X (formerly Twitter).
Brentan Debysingh, public relations manager with Bet365 Sportsbook NC, confirmed that Bet365 saw record-setting betting activity for the women’s college final.
“Monday night’s game created history for us,” Debysingh told NCSharp. “[Iowa vs. South Carolina] was the most bet women’s basketball game in bet365 history – including WNBA Finals. Last year’s final between LSU/Iowa and the Iowa-Ohio State match last month where Caitlin Clark broke the scoring record round out the top three.”
Bet365 reports that they saw a record number of bets on the money line within the United States: the highest figure for NCAA Women’s Basketball in history. Only a handful of U.S. women’s national team soccer games have generated more betting activity, Bet365 said today.
The increased interest in women’s basketball, fueled by Clark and other stars such as Kamila Cardoso, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers, could translate to the next level behind a new generation of female players.
Caesars expects a flood of action to women’s college basketball
Grant Tucker, lead college basketball oddsmaker for Caesars Sportsbook NC, sees a stampede of new betting for women’s college basketball.
“Handle is increasing like crazy,” Tucker told NCSharp in an interview over the weekend. “The handle for these college games is pretty nuts, especially when the [professional sports] schedule is lighter.”
The increased betting activity was not just from “The Caitlin Clark Effect,” says Caesars.
“From the Sweet Sixteen [to the] Elite Eight, Iowa is the [most-bet], but people are betting everything,” Tucker says. “We have other superstars too. The level [of interest] is higher than we’ve ever seen it for women’s college hoops.”
Tucker and Caesars credit media coverage for helping to promote a sport that many have ignored previously.
“Increased viewership on ESPN and ESPN 2 [and placement on] the prime time spots has been important,” Tucker says. “If ESPN takes it serious, the bettors take it serious.”
Bettors are quickly becoming sophisticated in their betting on women’s college hoops too.
“Because they know what they are doing, we have to be ahead of the curve,” Tucker explains. “We’re ahead of the injury news.”
Caesars hopes the excitement surrounding the 2024 women’s tournament signals a sustained interest in the game.
“The money will show for sure,” Tucker says.
Sports fans in North Carolina can wager on several women’s basketball competitions. Along with NCAA basketball, that list includes the WNBA, Euroleague basketball, international FIBA competitions, and Big3.
Reportedly, rapper Ice Cube, the founder of Big3, a three-on-three hoops league, offered Clark $5 million to play limited games in his circuit.
Image Credit: Carolyn Kaster / AP Images
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