By Howard Manly, Globe Staff, 07/12/99

eam USA earned a whopping 13.3 overnight rating and 32 share during Saturday's Women's World Cup championship game against China.

The rating number easily shattered the 6.9 for last year's men's final between France and Brazil, and surpassed the record of 12.8 during the 1994 men's final between Italy and Brazil.

ABC spokesman Mark Mandel said the women's final exceeded the network's expectations ''by leaps and bounds.''

''It was quite unexpected to think the game would earn a number in the double digits, especially in today's climate on a Saturday afternoon,'' Mandel said, referring to the competition from scores of cable channels. ''This game pulled NFL-type numbers, and in some cases, even better.''

ABC estimated 40 million viewers watched the game.

''There was a lot of buzz about the team and the game,'' Mandel said.

This story ran on page D2 of the Boston Globe on 07/12/99.
© Copyright 1999 Globe Newspaper Company.