Oui Oui: NCAA first as basketball powers No. 6 South Carolina, No. 10 Notre Dame play in Paris

Associated Press

Women’s college basketball is about to make history with a monumental start to the season. We’re talking Eiffel Tower big.

On Monday, No. 6 South Carolina and No. 10 Notre Dame will tip off in Paris, marking the first time a women’s game will be played in the City of Lights. It’s an exciting moment for all involved.

“I think it’s pretty darn cool to be trendsetters,” said Dawn Staley, the South Carolina coach. The game will be televised on ESPN at 1 p.m. ET.

The international debut comes after a year of remarkable growth for women’s college basketball, both in terms of attendance and TV viewership. Several programs, including South Carolina, Iowa, Iowa State, and UConn, saw average attendance numbers exceeding 10,000. In fact, the Gamecocks were the only team to reach that milestone in the previous season.

ESPN recently announced that March Madness had its highest viewership since 2009, with a record-breaking 9.9 million viewers tuning in to watch the championship game between Iowa and LSU. The regular season also experienced its most viewers since 2014-15.

“There couldn’t be a better time to do this,” said Lea Miller-Tooley, the game organizer from Complete Sports Management. The excitement surrounding the event is palpable.

But the Paris game isn’t the only notable event in women’s college basketball this week. On Thursday, AP Player of the Year Caitlin Clark and her Iowa teammates will face Final Four participant Virginia Tech in a highly anticipated matchup at the NBA arena in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Iowa is already making headlines this season. In a recent exhibition game called the Crossover at Kinnick, they set an NCAA single-game attendance record with 55,646 fans in an outdoor football stadium.

The anticipation for these games is immense, and the teams have been enjoying their time in France, participating in youth clinics and sightseeing at famous landmarks like the Louvre.

Now, all the focus is on the game between South Carolina and Notre Dame. Both teams have a rich history of success and are ready to showcase their skills on an international stage.

The Fighting Irish, coming off a Sweet 16 appearance last season, are uncertain if star player Olivia Miles will be able to play due to a knee injury. However, coach Niele Ivey remains optimistic about their performance.

On the other side, the Gamecocks will be without key players Aliyah Boston, Zia Cooke, and Brea Beal, who have moved on to the professional level. South Carolina coach Dawn Staley is excited to see how her less experienced players will step up to the challenge.

“I’ve been waiting for my opportunity behind my talented ex-teammates,” said Bree Hall. “I’m excited to go out there and prove myself.”

Coach Ivey, who has previously been to Paris, has sought advice from Notre Dame football coach Marcus Freeman, who led his team to play in Ireland. She plans to embrace the moment while focusing on the task at hand.

UConn coach Geno Auriemma believes that as the game continues to gain international recognition, more opportunities will arise for U.S. programs to play overseas. He recognizes the tremendous growth of women’s college basketball.

Debbie Antonelli, a TV analyst and former player, shares the same sentiment. She anticipates even greater things for the women’s game, including more premier matchups and exciting venues.

South Carolina coach Dawn Staley’s dream of putting NCAA hoops on the global stage is finally becoming a reality.

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