The WNBA is TAKING OFF! In 2023, the franchise fee to launch a new WNBA team was $50M, and in two short years, it's jumped to $250M. The ownership groups of Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia are the newest announced expansion teams to pay the new fee. Currently, the league has 13 teams, and the ticket sales and sellout crowds for the 2025 season were at an all-time high. Also hitting new record-breaking metrics were TV viewership, corporate sponsors pouring into the sport, and player endorsement deals.
Take a look at Dallas Wings rookie sensation, Paige Bueckers, she currently has nine NIL deals with Ally Financial, Bose Corporation, L'Oreal, Gatorade, Google Chrome, Madison Reed, Nike, Panini America, and Verizon.
Not to be outshined by Caitlyn Clark's soaring popularity which played a significant role in growing the WNBA fanbase tremendously. Her dynamic playstyle, engaging personality, and consistent media presence have drawn new fans to the league, increasing game attendance and merchandise sales. This surge in popularity has translated to higher revenue for the WNBA, as sponsors and broadcasters recognize the expanding audience and invest more in the league's future.
Pay attention to the number of traning facilities that are being built around the US to support the teams. Major infrastructure and capital for state-of-the-art facilities have been annonced, are underway, or already completed for nearly half of the teams. E.g., the Chicago Sky have a new dedicated performance center oepning up in 2026 that is 40,000+ sq ft and costs $38M. That's one example of many. Currently, three traiing facilties have marquee naming rights partners: 1.) Golden Statee Valkyries - Sephora Performance Center, 2.) Phoenix Mercury - Mountain America Credit Union Performance Center, and 3.) Seattle Storm - BECU Storm Center for Basketball Performance. Expect more new venue developments and major annoucements around the league as it continues to grow and corporate partners develop strong ties to the team, community, and athletes to gain market share.
