ESPN continues to build momentum on the ratings front, following up increased viewership in Q1 with an uptick in audiences tuning in to the network's coverage of March Madness on the women's side.

Nearly 6 million comprised the peak audience for Sunday night's national championship game between UConn and South Carolina. The Gamecocks would go on to beat the Huskies fairly handedly.

ESPN reported the telecast drew an average of 4.85 million viewers. That number was up 30 percent than the 2019 title game. It was ESPN's most-watched women's national championship since 2004. The network said average viewership for the entire women's tournament had gone up 16 percent compared to 2021.

The Women's Final Four had an average of 2.7 million viewers for the two national semis, the best in a decade. The Elite Eight was the most-watched since 2011, with an 11 percent jump compared to last year.