Indeed. It’s been a record-breaking year for the sport as players like Iowa's Caitlin Clark and LSU's Angel Reese have quickly become household names. ESPN said its viewership jumped 37% this regular season, but the main show starts today when the women’s NCAA tournament kicks off. Nosebleeds for the women’s Final Four games are already reselling for around $400, as fans hope for a South Carolina-Iowa final. The NCAA has taken notice, striking a $920 million, eight-year deal to give ESPN exclusive coverage rights to 40 women’s collegiate championships. That’s reportedly up 300% per year from the previous agreement.
What changed?
In short: the Caitlin Clark effect. Clark became the top NCAA D1 scorer across men’s and women’s basketball. The talent also runs deep this year, with Stanford’s Cameron Brink and USC’s JuJu Watkins also taking the court. Women’s college ball has come a long way since the first NCAA basketball championship in 1982, but the past few years have been integral in getting it the respect it deserves. In 2021, a viral video highlighted the stark disparities between the men’s and women’s weight rooms. That same year a report verified what players already knew: The NCAA treated women’s basketball unfairly and undervalued them for years. It took until 2022 for the women to be able to use March Madness branding for their tournament. But it's not just women's basketball that's seeing a major shift. Women's volleyball and women's soccer are also breaking records, with networks and sponsors taking note.
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Women's sports are hotter (and more lucrative) than ever right now — Deloitte is forecasting that they could bring in $1 billion in revenue in 2024. The hope is that this is less of a moment and more the new reality.
Texas. Yesterday, a federal appeals court put a controversial immigration law on hold hours after the Supreme Court sided with Texas. The high court's ruling initially allowed Texas to temporarily enforce SB4, which allows state authorities to arrest migrants and deport those suspected of crossing the border illegally. The 6-3 SCOTUS decision rejected the Biden admin's emergency application, which argued states can’t impede on federal authority of the border. Immigration advocates said the law would encourage racial profiling and discrimination. Meanwhile, Mexico said it would not accept any deportations “under any circumstances.” Now, an appeals court has blocked the law again and is expected to hear arguments in the case today.
What's on the rise...
Abortions. There were more than 1 million abortions provided in the US last year, according to a report published yesterday. That’s the most in over a decade, with medication abortions accounting for 63% of all abortions. Still, the findings are considered to be an undercount. The report comes almost two years after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade — allowing more than a dozen states to ban or restrict abortion access. Health officials say the report highlights the work clinics and abortion funds have done to help people in the wake of state bans. Last year, over 160,000 women crossed state lines to seek care in places like Illinois and New Mexico, where medication abortion is still legal. At least for now. The Supreme Court is hearing arguments on that too.
What's raising some alarms...
Intermittent fasting. New research from the American Heart Association says people who restrict their eating to an eight-hour window could be 91% more likely to die from a cardiovascular disease. Intermittent fasting has grown in popularity over the years, thanks in part to celebs. Still, the researchers said more work needs to be done to understand why restricted eating can lead to cardiovascular disease.
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Skimm Picks
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†8-hour release
‡These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
