College hoops fans left ecstatic as UConn vs Notre Dame sets season high viewership record: "They need to put more games on TV"

Hannah Hidalgo spearheaded No. 8 Notre Dame’s 79-68 victory over No. 2 UConn on Thursday night, handing the Huskies their first loss of the season. The Notre Dame-UConn showdown captivated audiences across the country, drawing season-high numbers for a women’s college basketball broadcast. ESPN’s broadcast of the game averaged 847,000 viewers, with a peak of 915,000

The game was the most-watched pre-January women’s college basketball game on the network since 2011, according to Sports Media Watch. The clash saw Hidalgo rack up 29 points, helping the Fighting Irish overcome a determined fightback from the Huskies.

College basketball fans were thrilled as the UConn vs. Notre Dame matchup broke viewership records. The game sparked calls for greater coverage, with fans declaring on Instagram that they wanted more of these games on TV.

"Televise more women’s games!!!" one fan said.

"More games need to be televised! The market is there and waiting! Let’s go NCAA!" another fan said.

"The future for the WNBA," a fan commented.

"Really deserved (the viewership figures), because what a match it was," another comment said

"They always put on such a good game. It’s been like that for years. Always exciting, competitive and high level basketball." an Instagram user wrote.

"That’s awesome. Such a great game !" a fan wrote.

"They need to put more games on tv!!" an Instagram user wrote.

Fans praised UConn vs Notre Dame (Image via Instagram/marchmadnesswbb)

Notre Dame overcomes UConn’s rally

Guard Hannah Hidalgo celebrates scoring a three point shot during a NCAA women's basketball game between Notre Dame and UConn at Purcell Pavilion on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in South Bend. - Source: Imagn

Notre Dame entered halftime with an 11-point lead, however, in the third quarter, the Huskies closed the gap to within one point. The tense back-and-forth kept fans on edge as UConn threatened to turn the game around.

However, Hidalgo led the charge, guiding her team through the pressure to secure the victory. The win marked their third triumph over a top-five opponent this season. Earlier, the Fighting Irish had defeated USC on November 23 and the Texas Longhorns on Dec 6.

Hidalgo recorded a near triple-double with 29 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. Her defensive impact with three steals rounded out her standout showing. This performance reaffirmed Hidalgo as one of the top players in women’s college basketball.

For the Huskies, the loss ended their eight-game winning streak after their impressive early-season form. The Huskies will host Georgetown on Sunday and the Fighting Irish will face Eastern Michigan on their home court on the same day.