The 2025 March Madness Tournament may have just come to a close this past week, but the basketball madness doesn’t need to end there.
Full Court Press, a 2024 ESPN+ docuseries, offers a deep dive into the 2023-2024 NCAA Division 1 women’s college basketball season. The four-part series spotlights three of the game’s brightest stars: Caitlin Clark of Iowa, Kamilla Cardoso of South Carolina, and Kiki Rice of UCLA. Directed by Kristen Lappas, Full Court Press offers an intimate look into the immense pressures these young athletes face, featuring behind-the-scenes footage and exclusive interviews from athletes, coaches, families, and ESPN analysts.
“Dream Chasers”
“What’s unique about this moment in women’s basketball? They can no longer hold us back.”
Dawn Staley
The first episode of Full Court Press introduces its three collegiate stars: Caitlin Clark, Kamilla Cardoso, and Kiki Rice—each on a unique journey through the 2023–2024 NCAA women’s basketball season.
Caitlin Clark
Beginning with Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes, the episode highlights a historic moment in women’s sports. On October 15, 2023, Iowa faced DePaul in an outdoor exhibition game at Kinnick Stadium. The game drew a record-breaking crowd of 55,646 fans, setting a new all-time attendance record for a women’s basketball game. This turnout was largely credited to what many call the “Caitlin Clark effect,” the star’s massive impact on the sport over the past few years. With Clark’s confidence to take three-point shots from the logo, her presence has taken the women’s game to unprecedented heights, selling out arenas and breaking viewership records, to landing endorsement deals and inspiring a new generation.
Clark reflected on this pressure saying, “Hardest part about being Caitlin Clark, having to feel like you are always, like, on.” There is not only a pressure to win games, but an overall pressure to bring in viewers. To continue to grow the women’s game and inspire young girls.
Kamilla Cardoso
But for South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso, achieving success required making significant personal sacrifices. She left her hometown of Montes Claros, Brazil, at the age of 14 to move to the United States. Without knowing English or anything about American culture, Cardoso knew the difficult decision would bring her greater athletic opportunities, a better education, and a way to support her family back home. Cardoso reflected on the difficult transition, “I left Brazil to chase my dreams. That’s my biggest sacrifice, just being away from my family.”
Kiki Rice
Kiki Rice grew up with basketball deeply rooted in her life. Her father played college basketball, her cousin made it to the NBA, and her great-uncle was a member of the Harlem Globetrotters. She even had the chance to play ball with former President Barack Obama as a child, thanks to a family connection. Rice received her first scholarship offer in eighth grade, ultimately choosing UCLA to build something historic for a program that has never claimed an NCAA title.
“Down to Business”
A large part of college athletes’ lives is NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals and newfound fame. Kiki Rice was able to capitalize on her opportunities in L.A., making history as the first college athlete to sign with the Jordan Brand. Clark also received numerous brand deals, making her a household name. With the increase in visibility, for the first time, arenas were selling out regularly, with fans paying thousands for courtside seats. Some games even outrated NBA matchups featuring iconic teams like the Boston Celtics or Miami Heat.
Unfortunately, not every player could reap the benefits. Kamilla Cardoso was unable to cash in on NIL deals due to student visa restrictions. Despite this unfair situation, Cardoso was able to travel home to Brazil to play for her national team, giving her mother and sister a chance to see her play professionally in person.
“Fearless”
Episode three is packed with emotional moments for each of the players. Caitlin Clark makes history, becoming the all-time leading scorer in college basketball, for men and women, along with setting Iowa’s all-time scoring record with an incredible 3,951 career points. One of the most heartwarming scenes comes on Iowa’s Senior Night when Clark is surprised by her longtime idol and women’s basketball star, Maya Moore.
During South Carolina’s Senior Night, Cardoso is surprised by her mother and sister, who had previously been denied visas to the United States. Off the court, Cardoso grapples with the difficult decision of whether to declare for the WNBA Draft. For women, going pro doesn’t come with the same financial security as it does for men, rookie contracts often average around $70,000, a stark contrast to the millions earned by NBA newcomers.
For Kiki Rice, she wrestles with the pressure of high expectations, visiting a sports therapist to work on overcoming her nerves.
“Full Court Press”
The final episode of Full Court Press dives into the electrifying, high-pressure atmosphere of the NCAA Tournament, as teams battle toward the ultimate goal of a national title. One of the most anticipated matchups came in the Elite Eight, a rematch between LSU and Iowa that drew massive attention. The spotlight was on Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, two players often pitted against each other by the media.
In the Final Four, Iowa faced UConn in a record-setting showdown watched by 14.2 million viewers, the most-watched women’s college basketball game in history at the time. Ultimately, it was South Carolina who claimed the championship, defeating Iowa in a hard-fought final.
Though only one team walked away with the trophy, the tournament marked a series of milestone achievements for women’s basketball. Kiki Rice helped lead UCLA to its highest national ranking in program history. For the first time ever, television ratings for the 2024 women’s title game were higher than the men’s national championship. And following Clark’s selection as overall WNBA draft pick, it was also announced that 36 of the Indiana Fever’s 40 regular-season games would be nationally televised.
When is Season 2 Coming Out?
It was recently confirmed that Full Court Press will return for a highly anticipated second season, set to premiere in early May 2025. Season 2 will spotlight a new trio: Flau’Jae Johnson of LSU, Hannah Hidalgo of Notre Dame, and Kiki Iriafen of USC. The second season will show moments from this most recent 2024-2025 season.
The 2025 March Madness Season
It’s impossible to talk about the rise of women’s college basketball without mentioning this year’s unforgettable NCAA tournament, which concluded on Sunday, April 6. The UConn Huskies claimed their 12th national championship, the most in NCAA Division I women’s history, after defeating the South Carolina Gamecocks. Now, attention turns to the WNBA Draft. UConn’s own Paige Bueckers is widely projected to be the No. 1 overall pick, heading to the Dallas Wings.
Over the past few years, women’s basketball has grown tremendously. Full Court Press does a beautiful job of highlighting the incredible talent, work, and achievements of these amazing college athletes who are growing the game of women’s basketball to a level never seen before.
Full Court Press is available to stream on ESPN.
