Skip to main content

Iowa-LSU Matchup Most Bet Women’s College Basketball Game Ever?

Davis Isabela

Updated as of April 3, 2024 at 10:34 AM EDT • Read time: 1 minute and 34 seconds. Find more information on Twitter and Google News.

Mikaylah Williams #12 of the LSU Tigers and Caitlin Clark #22 of the Iowa Hawkeyes fight for the ball as we look at the details surrounding how sportsbooks benefitted from the Iowa-LSU Elite Eight game.
Mikaylah Williams #12 of the LSU Tigers and Caitlin Clark #22 of the Iowa Hawkeyes fight for the ball on April 01, 2024 in Albany, New York. Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images via AFP.

The thrilling Elite Eight matchups in the women’s 2024 NCAA Tournament on Monday not only delighted fans, but also proved to be profitable for top sports betting sites. The games between Iowa-LSU and UConn-USC were a boon for these platforms.

According to BetMGM trading manager Seamus Magee, the LSU vs. Iowa women’s basketball game saw the highest betting volume ever, while the UConn vs. USC game ranked in the top 3. Several sportsbooks in the American market also noted high levels of wagering activity on these matchups.

Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese dazzled in a highly anticipated rematch of last year’s national championship game, shocking analysts with the betting odds and drawing unexpected viewership interest.

On Tuesday, both bet365 and DraftKings announced that Monday’s game was the most wagered-on women’s college basketball game in history. BetMGM also reported that it was the most bet-on women’s sporting event ever.

Just how big was Iowa-LSU for sportsbooks?

Prominent sportsbooks in the U.S. legal sports wagering scene reported that women’s basketball was the standout in Monday night’s betting activity. Despite a full menu of options, including six NBA games and 14 MLB games, it was the women’s basketball games that attracted the most attention from bettors. The NBA matchup between the Boston Celtics and the Phoenix Suns, as well as the MLB games, were also popular choices for Monday night betting.

According to a spokesperson from FanDuel, the LSU vs. Iowa matchup was the most popular betting event on the platform yesterday, surpassing all NBA, MLB, and NHL games. The UCONN vs. USC game was ranked third in terms of betting activity for the day.

In an email, BetMGM Trading Manager Seamus Magee stated that the games in both women’s NCAA tournament outperformed all six NBA games in total bets and handle last night.

Caesars described the game as “the largest women’s college basketball game we’ve ever scheduled.”

FanDuel saw a 28% increase in betting from the Elite Eight to the championship game between LSU and Iowa last season.

Looking forward to the Final Four

Caitlin Clark’s impact on women’s basketball has sparked a newfound excitement around the sport, drawing in more viewers for the upcoming women’s Final Four. The unbeaten South Carolina team will take on NC State at 7 p.m. ET, with UConn facing off against Iowa in the second game of the night.

South Carolina is favored by 11.5 points in their upcoming game in Cleveland, with many expecting them to win the tournament. Iowa is a 2.5-point favorite to make it to the final.

This promises to be an exciting event and could be a profitable few days for our top sports betting apps. Anticipated record-breaking wagering activity on the games is on the horizon.

Written By:
Davis Isabela
Davis Isabela is the Editor-in-Chief of Underscoreg Review. He has been a writer, reporter and editor for more than 20 years, and his work has appeared in more than 200 publications across North America. His first book, “100 Greatest Canadian Sports Moments”, was a hardcover best-seller in Canada in 2008. He has written more than 50 sportsbook reviews and dozens of other sportsbook-related content articles. James has also been quoted as a sports betting expert in USA Today and Sports Illustrated.