quote:
Here's the thing about womens college basketball. Even though the WNBA exists, womens college basketball is the pinnacle for their sport, which is why rating are infinitely higher for womens college ball compared to the WNBA. It's the only college vs pro sport that's like that. College baseball will never be the pinnacle of the sport of baseball. That said, more and more elite high school players are going to college ever year. The number of drafts picks getting cut in half and the development they receive now in college compared to 20 years ago has a lot to do with it. Many times, you have a much faster track to the majors if you played college ball as opposed to going pro out of high school. Add NIL (for the larger schools at least), college baseball is a much more appealing option for high school players than it once was. So I do expect the college baseball game continue to grow.

As far as ratings, College baseball also has the issue of having the CWS right in the middle of the NBA finals and Stanley Cup finals.

Absolutely.

The WNBA doesn't pluck the best talent after a single year in college like the NBA does. There's a reason why most NCAA career records in men's basketball are in little danger of being broken.