Editor’s note: Original press release stated the total live audience was 1,583,000 viewers. In fact, the final total live audience was 1,677,000 viewers, larger than originally reported. The release was updated with this information at 6:10 p.m. ET on Tuesday, June 6.

• Five-Hour-Plus Telecast Averaged More Than 1.6 Million Viewers; Peaks at More than 2.1 Million Viewers
• Two Most-Watched WCWS Finals Game 1s Played in Last Three Years
• Numerous WCWS Streaming Records Set

The longest game in Women’s College World Series Finals history (June 5 at 7 p.m. on ESPN) averaged a total live audience (TV + streaming) of 1,677,000 viewers, the most-watched WCWS Finals Game 1 ever*.  The viewership for the Oklahoma-Florida marathon, 17-inning affair was up 60% from last year’s WCWS Finals first game featuring the Sooners and Auburn Tigers (June 6, 2016).

This year’s record WCWS Game 1 audience, which saw the Sooners win 7-5 after a three-run homerun in the top of the 17th inning,  surpassed the 2015 WCWS Finals Game 1 featuring Michigan vs. Florida as the most-watched opening game of the Finals ever. As a result, the two most-watched WCWS Finals Game 1s have been played in the last three seasons.

WCWS Streaming Records Set Across the Board
The Sooners-Gators showdown was the most-streamed Women’s College World Series game ever (all rounds), including significant increases in all major metrics over the previously mentioned Sooners-Tigers opening game in 2016. Last night, more than 662,000 viewers streamed 15,000,000 total minutes, up 1000% and 581%, respectively. The average minute audience was also up 140%.

Additional Highlights:

• Audience Peaks in 16th Inning: ESPN’s TV audience peaked at 2,152,000 viewers as midnight approached on the east coast (11:45 – midnight). More than two million people were watching when Oklahoma’s Shay Knighten put the Sooners on top for good (12:15 a.m. – 12:30 a.m.).
• Tulsa and Oklahoma City Lead the Way: Tulsa was the No. 1 local market with a 7.4 rating, followed by Oklahoma City with a 6.6 overnight.

Women’s College World Series Continues Tonight
After the longest game in Women’s College World Series Finals history, the second game of the best-of-three Women’s College World Series Finals between No. 10 Oklahoma and No. 1 Florida is tonight on ESPN (8 p.m.) . If Florida wins tonight, a decisive Game 3 will air on Wednesday on ESPN (8 p.m.).  Complete production details can be found here.

*Best of three finals began in 2005

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Media contact: Derek Volner at 860-384-9986; [email protected] and @DerekVolner