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Dave McMenamin, ESPN Staff Writer
WASHINGTON — LeBron James is among the many viewers tuning in to the women's NCAA Tournament this spring. The Los Angeles Lakers forward, considered by many to be the face of the NBA, has a theory as to why women's college hoops is having a moment like this. That's star power.
“I don't think there's a huge difference between the men's and women's games when it comes to college basketball,” James said Wednesday after the Lakers' 125-120 win over the Washington Wizards. “I think their popularity comes from their iconography in the women's game. You look at Angel Reese, you look at Juju.” [Watkins]you see Caitlin Clark, you see Paige [Bueckers]. Look at this young girl who is a freshman at Iowa State University. [Audi Crooks].you please look [Cameron] Blink…Stanford University. That's just part of it.and a freshman at the University of Notre Dame. [Hannah Hidalgo].Because they're not allowed to go to the NBA [after their freshman year]. ”
Monday's Elite Eight game between Clark's Iowa Hawkeyes and Reese's LSU Tigers drew an average of 12.3 million viewers on ESPN. The only other game in the men's NCAA Tournament that drew more viewers was his Final Four game between Duke and North Carolina State, which was watched by 15.1 million people.
While the barrier for players to enter the NBA is completing one year of college or being 19 years old, the WNBA requires NCAA players to be 22 years old or older in the calendar year of the draft in which they plan to participate in order to be eligible. You must have exhausted your university entrance qualifications. . Foreign players must be 20 years old in the year they participate in the draft.
James said the longevity advantage required before turning pro is evident in the college game.
“The program allows us to build a truly iconic legacy,” James said. “And that's what we all love about this game. That's what we all love about this game. What we love about girls games is actually seeing the girls. Because that's the moment when you can do it.” [build to]. That's what makes this women's Final Four and Elite Eight so great. Yes, Iowa was a great team. We caught our attention because of Caitlin Clark. You'll be watching Purdue because of Zach Eady, because he's a great player. We watched the Purdue vs. Tennessee game thanks to Zach Eady. [Dalton] Knecht. ”
“It depends on the player, but he's going to get a lot of attention in terms of ratings.”
However, James pointed to what she feels are the pitfalls of the current situation for female college stars. Their interest in the tournament is unprecedented, but is it at the expense of their personal opportunities?
James raised Watkins. Watkins signed with the same agency as his own agent (Klutch Sports) and averaged 27.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.3 steals and led USC to the Elite Eight, but the Trojans lost to UConn. Defeated.
“It's just a different era for men's and women's,” James said. “And guys can come out after their freshman year. If they have a great season after their freshman year in college basketball, they go to the league. If a girl has a great season, like JuJu. JuJu, she “I can't get out. If I could, I might come out. Maybe. But that's the difference.”
