In a historic moment for women’s sports, the University of Iowa women’s basketball team shattered the all-time attendance record as they faced off against DePaul in a charity exhibition game, dubbed the “Crossover at Kinnick.” The game took place at Kinnick Stadium, the renowned home of the Hawkeyes’ football team. An incredible 55,646 fans filled the stadium, nearly doubling the previous record of 29,619 set during the 2002 NCAA championship game between UConn and Oklahoma in San Antonio’s Alamodome.
Lisa Bluder, Iowa’s head coach, came up with the plan for her team to play an outdoor game at Kinnick Stadium, with the hope of setting a new women’s basketball single-game attendance record. Bluder’s “Crossover at Kinnick” idea came to her when 9,000 fans showed up for a campus celebration for the Hawkeyes in April upon return from their NCAA championship game against LSU.
Iowa Womens Basketball In football stadium 😳
Most fans EVER for a women's basketball game
(via @BigTenNetwork)
— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) October 16, 2023
Last year, the Hawkeyes ranked second nationally in attendance and Iowa State was seventh. The previous women’s basketball attendace record, set in 2002, stood at 29,619 attendees and was established during the NCAA national championship game between UConn and Oklahoma in San Antonio’s Alamodome. However, the Hawkeyes almost doubled that record with their enthusiastic turnout.
The record-breaking crowd was treated to an outstanding performance by Caitlin Clark, the reigning national player of the year. Clark posted an extraordinary triple-double with 34 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in the 94-71 victory over DePaul. She expressed her astonishment at playing before such a colossal crowd:
“Fifty-five thousand? That’s pretty incredible. It’s hard to kind of imagine yourself playing basketball in front of 55,000.”
All proceeds from the game were directed to the adjacent Iowa Children’s Hospital, reflecting the deep connection between the team and their community. Players and coaches from both teams also participated with the crowd in “The Wave,” the tradition of fans at Kinnick waving to young patients and their families who are watching games through the windows at the adjacent Stead Family Children’s Hospital.
Bigger than basketball 💛#Hawkeyes
— Iowa Women's Basketball (@IowaWBB) October 15, 2023
Basketball fans of all ages braved the chilly Iowa weather to witness history and support women’s sports. It’s not just in Iowa; the enthusiasm for women’s sports is spreading across the country. Brooklyn recently saw a sellout crowd of 17,143 fans at Game 3 of the WNBA Finals, while Nebraska hosted a women’s volleyball double-header at Memorial Stadium, breaking the world attendance record for a women’s sporting event with a staggering 92,003 attendees.
Views from the Depaul vs Iowa womens basketball game in the Hawkeyes football stadium that seats 50K #NCAAWBB https://t.co/ktmjtnTKAg
— Balling on These (@Ballingonthese) October 15, 2023
This newfound momentum for women’s sports is more than just packed arenas; it’s about the energy and passion of fans who are proud to support their favorite female athletes.With the upcoming expansion of the WNBA in 2025 and the continued rise of athletes like Caitlin Clark and Breanna Stewart, the future of women’s sports looks brighter than ever. These record-breaking events clearly demonstrate that women’s athletics are not only entertaining but also economically viable. As more people recognize the power and pull of female athletes, we can expect that breaking attendance records for women’s sports events will be the norm.