This year's Women's World Cup Final drew a HUGE audience on Sunday:
Source confirms that the WWC Final drew an astounding 15.2 overnight rating. @SonOfTheBronx was the first I saw with this number today.
— John Ourand (@Ourand_SBJ) July 6, 2015
How does that compare to the final match between U.S. and Japan in 2011?:
based on early overnight TV ratings in America, US Women's World Cup game DOUBLED viewers from US finals just 4 yrs ago.
— Eric Boehlert (@EricBoehlert) July 6, 2015
According to TV By The Numbers, 20.3 million people watched the 2015 Women's World Cup final. And apparently, other sources are saying it was 25.4 million viewers:
Per both @Ourand_SBJ and me: Fox averaged 25.4 million viewers for last night's WWC US-Japan game. Amazing.
— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) July 6, 2015
Up until last night, the three most-watched soccer events in U.S. television history were (in descending order) the U.S.-Portugal match during the 2014 World Cup (18.2 million), the 1999 Women's World Cup final (17.9 million), and the 2014 World Cup final between Germany and Argentina (~17.3 million). This year's final easily ascended to the top of that list.
When compared to the other major summer sporting events this year, it easily beat out the NBA Finals (average overnight rating of 13.9) and the Stanley Cup finals (7.6 million viewers).
The fact that the 2015 Women's World Cup just became the most-watched soccer event in U.S. television history is a big "eff you" to the doubters who say that America doesn't care either about women's sports or soccer.
So, put those middle fingers up.
SB Nation presents: And get ready now for the future stars of the USMNT