- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Forbes: The WNBA’s Most Valuable Teams 2025
Posted on 6/6/25 at 8:31 pm
Posted on 6/6/25 at 8:31 pm
quote:
It’s much bigger than Caitlin Clark—optimism around the league’s future has sent franchise values skyrocketing, to an average of $272 million, ahead of a critical club sale.
quote:
Over the last two years, the WNBA’s business has soared above the rim, with league-wide attendance reaching 2.4 million during the 2024 regular season—up 48% year-over-year—and more than 54 million unique viewers tuning in to national telecasts. Still, beyond a handful of transactions involving tiny slivers of teams, there hasn’t been much data to suggest how the momentum is translating to franchise valuations.
That is about to change. The New York Liberty recently sold a significant minority share—a percentage in the “mid-teens,” according to a person with knowledge of the deal—at a $450 million valuation, and the Connecticut Sun are currently on the market, seeking either a new limited partner or a control sale.
For now, some investment bankers around the sport believe that the economics of the Sun—and other teams near the bottom of the WNBA’s financial leaderboard—don’t justify even a $100 million price tag. But with demand from would-be owners far outstripping supply in the 13-team league, many WNBA insiders believe the cost to acquire Connecticut could approach Cleveland’s ongoing bid for an expansion franchise, believed to be roughly $250 million.
In recognition of that scarcity value, and of future league-wide growth, Forbes pegs the Sun at $200 million this year in its first-ever ranking of the WNBA’s most valuable teams. The Atlanta Dream, just behind the Sun, set the league’s floor at $190 million, and the average for the WNBA’s existing 12 teams sits at $272 million. (Forbes did not value the Golden State Valkyries, who are three weeks into their inaugural season.)
quote:
The new WNBA team values may look like overpays given the current state of the league. Consider that the $272 million average valuation from Forbes’ list is 14.4 times average revenue—far exceeding the multiple in the National Women’s Soccer League (8.8x) as well as in men’s leagues including the NBA (11.7x), MLS (9.3x) and the NFL (9x).
These prices, however, don’t reflect the WNBA as it exists today. Rather, they are bets on the potential of the league, and an expectation that it is reaching a tipping point.
LINK
11
Posted on 6/6/25 at 8:34 pm to SPEEDY
quote:
to an average of $272 million
Posted on 6/6/25 at 8:38 pm to SPEEDY
Of course it’s your reigning defending undisputed WNBA champions of the world the New York Liberty leading the way. 
Posted on 6/6/25 at 8:44 pm to SPEEDY
quote:
It’s much bigger than Caitlin Clark
Posted on 6/6/25 at 8:45 pm to SPEEDY
Okay....take away the #2 team and the Player, like she didn't exist and then reevaluate the League....
Might go something like The Onion....
But...but...yeah, where were these "team" valuations before CC?
Might go something like The Onion....
quote:
MINNEAPOLIS—According to a report by Forbes magazine, the Minnesota Lynx are easily the WNBA’s richest franchise, boasting an estimated enterprise value of nearly four dollars. “With merchandise revenue at 29 cents and season ticket sales topping a dollar for the first time in history, the Minnesota Lynx are a financial powerhouse in the WNBA,” wrote Forbes editor Mark Furlow, who also cited a diet soda a fan bought for $1.25 in September as a major reason for the team’s record-breaking profits.
But...but...yeah, where were these "team" valuations before CC?
Posted on 6/6/25 at 9:08 pm to SPEEDY
A league that has never turned a yearly profit in it’s existence is worth nothing.
Posted on 6/6/25 at 9:25 pm to SPEEDY
No one is making these investments to make money. These are philanthropic investments in the name of women’s sports that get super wealthy people goodwill and entail capital losses offsetting future tax burdens
Once you realize this it all makes sense
Once you realize this it all makes sense
Posted on 6/6/25 at 9:51 pm to SPEEDY
Take away the NBA subsidies and they would be worth $10
Posted on 6/6/25 at 11:27 pm to mizzoubuckeyeiowa
Women's sports is on the rise.
WNBA was consistently getting popular and higher ratings than the NHL before Clark entered the league.
Women's soccer teams are now valued at near $300 million
Does Catlin get the credit for that as well?
Posted on 6/6/25 at 11:55 pm to RelicBatches86
No one in the WNBA makes money
Posted on 6/7/25 at 12:11 am to SPEEDY
Reminds me of these tech startups that have valuations by financial gurus in the billions and then quietly go bankrupt a year later.
These numbers are completely made up.
These numbers are completely made up.
Posted on 6/7/25 at 12:15 am to StansberryRules
WNBA is the USPS of sports.
DWI.
DWI.
Posted on 6/7/25 at 2:42 am to navy
Lol she finished 2nd again. Poor CC
Posted on 6/7/25 at 4:34 am to SPEEDY
How are the sparks 8th? Even if the amounts are made up, that location has to be worth more.
Posted on 6/7/25 at 6:56 am to RemouladeSawce
quote:As a wise man (I think it was a man) said on the twitter: the WNBA is a charity for lesbians.
No one is making these investments to make money. These are philanthropic investments in the name of women’s sports that get super wealthy people goodwill and entail capital losses offsetting future tax burdens
Would love to see the calculations behind these valuations. I don't think any of these teams have ever turned a profit, and the league doesn't exist without the NBA subsidy. I get trying to pump it up and bring some optimism and energy to the sport, but these valuations are Henry Blodgett level pure fantasy.
Posted on 6/7/25 at 7:01 am to coolpapaboze
quote:I am not disagreeing with all of that, but the WNBA has undeniably become more mainstream.
Would love to see the calculations behind these valuations. I don't think any of these teams have ever turned a profit, and the league doesn't exist without the NBA subsidy. I get trying to pump it up and bring some optimism and energy to the sport, but these valuations are Henry Blodgett level pure fantasy.
Now, this is likely through forced presentation on ESPN and other channels, but even this board is now inundated with it.
There have been more WNBA threads on this board over the last year or two than I have seen in the decade prior.
A lot of it is complaining, but that itself drives views and results in even more publicity, which subsequently results in higher valuation.
Why people on here care so much about a league they don’t watch is beyond me.
This post was edited on 6/7/25 at 7:02 am
Posted on 6/7/25 at 7:23 am to SPEEDY
Wow I remember when nfl teams were worth that much
Posted on 6/7/25 at 7:25 am to Scruffy
I don't really disagree with you, there's clearly buzz about the league. My point is really that the Forbes article is silly simply because of the valuation angle.
Posted on 6/7/25 at 7:32 am to TigerBait2008
quote:
Lol she finished 2nd again. Poor CC
She finishes first in a lot too.
Posted on 6/7/25 at 7:38 am to SPEEDY
I wonder how much of the value is attached to the funding levels from the nba?
Page 1 of 2
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News