One number that UConn does really well on is combined attendance for FB, BB, and WBB. Add up all the fans who bought tickets to watch those 3 sports and UConn really shines.
The FB and MBB fan is often the same fan, one in fall and one in winter. Many WBB fans do not follow FB or MBB, so they are additive to the fan base. The women's fan is also older and so provides a wider demographic for advertisers.
Few years back SC fans did not care about WBB. Last year when UConn played SC, many of their fans compared the anticipation of that game equivalent to Alabama and Georgia FB games. As schools, like Texas, SC get better and begin to challenge UConn, fan interest will spike, IMO.
Finally, a case can be made that UConn WBB is followed nationally, as this
anecdotal video clip from Memphis seems to indicate(1:10 min).