New Talent and Record Viewership Boost Women's Basketball

Sarah Strong, a highly-touted recruit and daughter of former professional basketball players, is set to begin her college career with the UConn Huskies, bringing with her a history of success in high school basketball. Meanwhile, the Odessa College women's basketball team is preparing for the new season with high expectations after a strong performance last year. Lilly Meister of Indiana University is stepping into a starting role, following in the footsteps of IU's top scorer Mackenzie Holmes. The WNBA's viewership has reached record highs, with the Minnesota Lynx versus New York Liberty game attracting 3.3 million viewers, underscoring the growing popularity of women's basketball. In this evolving landscape, players like JuJu Watkins and Hannah Hidalgo are part of a new generation expected to sustain and elevate the sport's profile. USC and Iowa are collaborating on how to manage the growing attention on these young athletes.