The WNBA's Most Valuable Franchise May Surprise You — But It Shouldn't
The Golden State Valkyries have become the WNBA's most valuable franchise, setting attendance and revenue records in their inaugural season. Their success challenges criticism of the league's rapid expansion, demonstrating strong fan support and financial viability. With new media deals, rising valuations, and growing attendance, the WNBA is experiencing a transformative period of growth.
- ▪The Golden State Valkyries are the WNBA's most valuable franchise in 2026, with a valuation of $850 million.
- ▪The Valkyries set all-time WNBA regular-season attendance records, averaging 18,064 fans per game.
- ▪The WNBA signed an 11-year, $2.2 billion media rights deal with Amazon Prime Video, Disney, and NBCUniversal in July 2024.
- ▪Expansion teams in Portland and Toronto have drawn strong early fan interest, with sold-out preseason games and high attendance expectations.
- ▪The WNBA has the highest value-to-revenue multiplier of any major U.S. sports league, according to Sportico.
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By Megan ArmstrongShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberSee more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.WNBA expansion teams in Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia were formally approved by the WNBA and NBA board of governors on April 9. Those teams won't start play until 2028, 2029, and 2030, respectively, but the expansion Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo have joined the league for this season. The Ringer founder Bill Simmons called the WNBA's addition of Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia franchises "staggeringly stupid and an unapologetic money-grab that will immediately make the league worse.""You can’t just frantically add new teams like fast food franchises the moment you have a little success,"…
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