ANGEL REESE TO PAIGE BECKERS AND JUJU WALK-INS WOMEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL PLAYERS ARE BECOMING HOUSEHOLD NAMES.

LAST NIGHT'S REMATCH BETWEEN IOWA AND LSU HAD MORE THAN 12 MILLION VIEWERS THE ALL MAKING IT.

THE MOST WATCHED WOMEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL GAME ON RECORD ON ESPN PLATFORMS.

JOINING US NOW TO TALK ABOUT THE GROWING EXCITEMENT, POPULARITY OF WOMEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL ARE ASHLEY BRACY HEAD COACH FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, CHICAGO'S WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM.

MELISSA ISAACSON, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY'S SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM.

AND MARIA WILLIAMSON, HEAD COACH FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO'S WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM.

WELCOME TEAMS.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

AND THANKS FOR JOINING US.

SO FIRST, I WANT TO GET A LITTLE BIT OF REACTION FROM THE 3 OF YOU TO WATCHING LAST NIGHT'S GAME.

HOW DID YOU WATCH IT?

LIKE WHERE YOU ON THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT OR STANDING UP THE ENTIRE TIME OR BITING YOUR NAILS.

MELISSA, LET'S START WITH YOU.

PLEASE OVERREACTION AGAIN, FULL DISCLOSURE.

I I WILL GRANT SO I WAS DEUCE TO KOFI US KIND OF FAN LEVEL THAT YOU COULD POSSIBLY LIKE SUPERSTITIOUS.

YOU KNOW, OUTFITS.

BUT NO, HONESTLY, IT BRINGS OUT THE FAN YOU KNOW, WHERE WHEELER REALLY, I >> I COULD NOT BE MORE ENGAGED BY THIS TEAM AND HAVE BEEN FOR THE LAST COUPLE LOVE LOVE, LOVE WATCHING THEM ALL THEM AND CAN OBVIOUSLY.

SHE'S JUST FUN TO WHAT SOME OF THOSE 3 POINTER SHOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE.

6 POINTERS ACTUALLY YOUR REACTION EVERYTHING THAT I HAD ANTICIPATED A I WATCH IT ON MY COUCH.

I WANT ANY NOISE AROUND I SEE THE ENTIRE TIME.

BUT JUST INCREDIBLE YOU MANAGED TO STAY IN YOUR SEAT.

AND IF YOU'RE IT WAS THE REACTION.

THE GAME.

>> YEAH, IT WAS.

MEAN, IT LIVED UP TO EVERY PART OF THE EXPECTATION YOU'RE KILLING PARK WAS FANTASTIC.

THE ELLIS WHO STEPPED IMMUNITY GAME.

I WAS TALKING TO ONE OF MY PLAYERS TODAY AND THERE EVERYBODY WAS SO TIRED BY THE END OF THE 1ST HALF.

AND SO IT'S LIKE THEY CAME OUT DELIVERED WITH THEIR TEENS, TOO.

SO IT WAS REALLY FUN TO WATCH HIM IN.

I I MY WIFE AND I WERE SAYING EVERY TIME CAITLIN CLARK, A SHOT OF THE AND YOU KNOW, AND EXCITING.

>> SHE WAS REALLY FAR AWAY FOR SOME OF SO, MELISSA, MANY FEEL THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS MOMENT HAS KIND OF RESTED ON CAITLIN CLARK AND HER STAR POWER.

ALSO, OF COURSE, LSU STAR PLAYER INJURIES.

HOW MUCH OF THIS ENTHUSIASM, YOU KNOW, DO YOU THINK IS AROUND, YOU KNOW, STAR POWER OR THE RIVALRY THAT THAT WE'VE HEARD OF BETWEEN THE 2 OF THEM A LITTLE BIT VERSUS JUST MAKING PROGRESS IN WOMEN'S SPORTS.

IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.

YOU KNOW, IT'S THE RIVALRY IS IS GREAT FUN.

>> I THINK IT'S ENGAGE.

PROBABLY SOME PART OF THE FAN BASE THAT MAYBE ARE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL FANS.

BUT THE LEVEL OF PLAY IS SO MUCH FUN AND PERSONALLY BEEN WATCHING WOMEN'S BASKETBALL FOR VERY LONG TIME.

TO IT'S JUST REALLY GOOD BASKETBALL.

REALLY GOOD ENTERTAINMENT.

SO, YES, ALL OF THAT COMBINED FOR THE PERFECT STORM.

YOU'VE GOT THE PERSONALITIES.

YOU'VE GOT THE RIVALRY.

YOU'VE GOT THE REMATCH LAST YEAR.

LAST YEAR'S AND THEN YOU'VE GOT GREAT FASTBALL AND A GREAT UP TO EXPECTATIONS.

MARIA SAID.

>> ASHLEY, HOW WOULD YOU SAY SOME OF THIS ENTHUSIASM THAT WE'RE SEEING NOW AROUND THE GAME COMPARES TO WHEN YOU WERE PLAYING?

MEAN, IT'S IT'S NIGHT AND A HUGE, HUGE AND IT'S REALLY SPECIAL BECAUSE WE POUR OUR HEARTS AND SOULS INTO JUST WHAT WE DO, HOW HARD WE WORK, HOW WE'RE TRYING TO DEVELOP THE GAME ON THE COURT AND JUST TO SEE IT PAYING OFF IS JUST INCREDIBLE AND REALLY SPECIAL FOR WOMEN.

>> MARIA.

ARE YOU SEEING AN IMPACT YOU KNOW, ALL THIS ENTHUSIASM?

IS IT TURNING UP ON CAMPUS A LITTLE BIT AS FAR AS A MORE FANS IN ATTENDANCE WERE PEOPLE INTEREST IN THE GAMES?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

I YOU KNOW, TALK TO SOMEONE EARLIER ABOUT THAT.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAD 3 SELLOUTS THIS FOR A CONFERENCE PLAY IN.

WE'VE HAD PEOPLE SAY YOU CAN DO ON BASKETBALL TEAM WAS THE BEST SPORTING EVENT TO THEY'VE BEEN THANK YOU, CHICAGO, ON DOES IN THE SAME BREATH ARE COMING UP TO ME TALKING ABOUT CAITLYN CLARK PAIGE BECKERS.

AND SO JUST BECOMING CALLED THE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL FAN MORE THAN ANYTHING REGARDLESS OF WHO YOU ARE.

AND I THINK THAT'S THE GREATEST IMPACT.

BUT THEN YOU GET PEOPLE IN THE SEATS THAT ARE REALLY EXCITED TO CHEER FOR AND IT JUST MAKES HUGE DIFFERENCE.

>> MELISSA, THERE'S ALSO BEEN GETTING LITTLE BIT OF CRITICISM FOR LSU COACH KIM MULKEY.

AH.

BUT THEN THERE'S ALSO BEEN, YOU KNOW, TALK OF HOW SHE'S REACTED TO THAT.

WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO WHAT'S BEEN SAID ABOUT HER?

SHE'S NOT.

>> EVERYBODY'S CUP OF TEA.

YOU KNOW, SHE'S SHE'S GOT A PERSONALITY.

THAT'S OBVIOUSLY EXTREMELY STRONG.

IF YOU'RE IN IOWA FAN, YOU KNOW, PARTICULARLY LOVER.

BUT IF THE SAME TIME SHE'S WONDERFUL COACH, NOBODY CAN CAN DISPUTE ABILITY AS TEXAS, A NOSE TECHNICIAN.

SHE'S TERRIFIC.

HER PLAYERS ARE DEVOTED THEY LOVE HER.

SHE YOU KNOW, SHE BRINGS A LOT OF SORT OF THE NEGATIVE ATTENTION TO HERSELF.

I THINK MAYBE DESIGN, MAYBE IT HURT KIND OF METHOD AND THIS SORT OF THING.

SO WASHINGTON POST PIECE THAT WAS OUT, MAYBE HALF THE PEOPLE WOULD HAVE READ IT.

ENDED UP READING IF SHE HADN'T HAVE COME OUT AND SAID BEFORE IT CAME OUT, I'M GOING TO SUE THEM.

YOU KNOW, ANYTHING'S TO THE FAMILY OF COURSE IT WASN'T, TOO IS IS A PROFILE GAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT SIDES WHO ARE PERSONALITY.

IT A LOT OF PEOPLE TO.

SHE'S GOOD FOR THE GAME AND I'M NOT ONE COULD DISPUTE THAT.

I THINK ALL IN ALL SHE HAD SHOESTRINGS.

SHE DIFFERENT, BUT SHE'S DEFINITELY GOOD FOR THE THE FASHION HAS DEFINITELY BEEN FUN TO WATCH.

NOT JUST HEARD, BUT SOME THE COACHING TEAM AND COACHING STAFF AS WELL.

>> ACTUALLY, THERE'S ALSO LSU PLAYER ANGEL REESE, EMOTIONALLY ADMITTING TO THE ATTACKS THAT SHE'S RECEIVED SINCE VERY CHAMPIONSHIP WIN LAST YEAR.

THERE WAS ALSO, AS WE KNOW, THE BIT OF SMACK TALKING BETWEEN THE 2 PLAYERS THAT WENT VIRAL IN THAT BUT WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE EXPERIENCE THAT SHE SAYS THAT SHE'S SINCE THAT CHAMPIONSHIP INCREDIBLY SAD?

I MEAN, I WAS ALMOST IN TEARS LISTENING TO HER SPEAK IN THAT PRESS CONFERENCE.

>> I'M JUST AND JUST LIKE WHAT SHE PUTS ON HER SHOULDERS FOR WOMEN'S BASKETBALL, I'M JUST I THINK WE ALL APPRECIATE IT SO MUCH BECAUSE WE WOULDN'T BE WHERE WE ARE TODAY WITHOUT HER.

AND IT'S JUST REALLY SAD THAT PEOPLE CAN SEE THE BEAUTY IN BUT ALSO, I JUST HAVE SO MUCH RESPECT FOR THE WAY SHE HANDLED HERSELF.

>> MARIA, WHAT'S SORT I GUESS STARTED FORMING A QUESTION HERE.

HAHA.

BUT WHAT WHAT ELSE DO YOU THINK NEEDS TO BE DONE TO CONTINUE TO ELEVATE WOMEN'S SPORTS?

>> THIS INCREASE IN COVERAGE YOU DOESN'T GIVE PREPARING FOR THIS.

ONE OF BIGGEST THINGS THAT HAPPENED OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS IS TOGETHER IS YOU KNOW, MEDIA COMPANY THAT SUPPORTS FOR MANY CLEANING WOMAN ATHLETE ACROSS MANY SPORTS AND THEY BROUGHT A LOT OF THEM, BROUGHT A LOT OF ATTENTION TO U.S. P AND ASSIGNS SIGNED A HUGE CONTRACT.

BUT IT'S REALLY JUST BEEN A COMMITMENT TO COVERAGE OF YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T HELP THAT THERE'S A LOT OF CELEBRITIES THAT REALLY BOUGHT INTO IT, WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF WOMEN ATHLETES BECOME BIGGER CELEBRITIES OVER THE LAST 5 YEARS.

AND BUT YOU YOU KNOW, JASON SUDEIKIS TED LASSO OF THE GAME LAST NIGHT.

YOU KNOW, JUST YOU KNOW, SOMETHING IS ROBBERS, FAMOUS SINGERS.

YOU HAD A LOT OF 100 PEOPLE YOU THROUGHOUT TIME MAKES BIGGER DRAW TO WIN.

SO JUST CONTINUING THAT ATTENTION IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

>> THE OTHER THING THAT WE IT WAS ON THE GAME IS, OF COURSE, A LOT OF A LOT OF COACHES, BUT A LOT THE REFEREE, THE STAFF AS WELL.

THAT'S REFFING THE GAME ALL WOMEN.

I MET A THAT'S PROBABLY IMPORTANT FOR FOR YOUNGER PLAYERS TO SEE AS WE DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF TIME ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT GOT VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION FOR THE 3 OF YOUR PICK TO WIN THE TOURNAMENT MELISSA.

I KNOW YOUR ANSWER BUT GO AT THE SAME TIME.

I DON'T WANT TO JINX THE TEAM.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY, THEY WILL GET PASSED.

UCONN TO SOUTH CAROLINA.

>> IF ANY TEAM CAN BEAT SOUTH CAROLINA TEAMS TO BE IOWA UP FOR WHATEVER REASON THEIR MATCHUPS SEEM TO WORK WITH SOUTH CAROLINA.

SO >> COULD SAY IT OUT LOUD, BUT YOU NO LONGER IN >> I GOT A SOUTH CAROLINA.

I HAD THE PLEASURE OF SCOUTING AND STONE STALEY DURING MY TIME AT UNIVERSITY MISSOURI.

SHE'S INCREDIBLE COACH.

AND I JUST THINK THEY'RE THEY HAVE DEPTH OF THEIR PACE, PHYSICALITY, EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO WIN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

ALL RIGHT, MARIA, YOUR TERM.

>> YES, SOUTH CAROLINA.

DAWN STALEY IN CULTURE.

AND IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THEY 8 PLAYERS EVEN COME OFF THE BENCH REALLY WREAK HAVOC.

SO I'M EXCITED TO SEE TAKE IT ALL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SHOULD BE A GREAT FINAL 4 LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

MARIA WILLIAMSON, ASHLEY, MELISSA, THANK YOU ALL