From SNL to $500 tickets, women’s basketball is mainstream. But for how long?

Stars like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have helped this year's NCAA Tournament break viewing records. And the success is built on solid foundations

After the curtain finally dropped on Caitlin Clark's collegiate career and the last of the garnet and black confetti had fallen at Cleveland's Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Sunday afternoon, the all-time scoring leader in major college basketball history could finally reflect on a season that has recalibrated all expectations for how women's sports can be covered, commercialized and consumed.

Twice in the last week alone Clark's games have set new television ratings records for women's college basketball with a third for the title game almost certain when Sunday's overnights are released. Even South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley, having just completed a perfect season for a second NCAA title in three years with a team who had graduated all five starters, probably her best piece of coaching work yet, couldn't make it far into her victory speech before paying tribute to the woman of the moment, saying: I want to personally thank Caitlin Clark for lifting up our sport."