WNBA Champions’ Valuation Soars to $450 Million Amid Women’s Basketball Boom

New York Liberty have become one of the most recognizable teams in the WNBA after a stellar championship run last season.

WNBA Champions’ Valuation Soars to $450 Million Amid Women’s Basketball Boom

WNBA Champion New York Liberty are now valued at $450 million (Image via FirstSportz)

Many might think that the surge in popularity women’s basketball is enjoying might be down to one or two players. But the overall impact was evident when Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart battled Napheesa Collier in the 2024 WNBA Finals.

There is no denying that fans want to watch Caitlin Clark battle Angel Reese. Their games usually draw more than two million viewers while also selling out arenas. But after the first round of the playoffs, neither of them was part of anything basketball-related.

Sure, there was a dip in ratings once the two most popular athletes ended their season. But as the games started to get competitive in the WNBA Finals, it became evident that basketball fans love exciting games no matter who is playing.

Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart, and Napheesa Collier might be the most notable stars of those finals. But the New York Liberty and the Minnesota Lynx collectively managed to draw millions of viewers. Now, all that attention has had an impact on their finances as well.

As per The Athletic’s Ben Pickman, the Liberty’s owners, Joe and Clara Wu Tsai, raised capital by selling off shares, which are rumored to be in the mid-tens in terms of percentage. But what surprised many was that the new investment has raised Liberty’s value to $450 million.

This is a record for a professional women’s sports team. It also shows that investors are excited by the proposition of women’s sports and want to be a part of the growth that is spreading across all the leagues. Now, if the WNBA champion New York Liberty has grown to this value, so should that of other teams in the league.

Next WNBA expansion team could pay record franchise fees

The WNBA already started work to bring in expansion teams even before the Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese-led hype train materialized. The Golden State Valkyries were the first to receive a spot in the league and are in the midst of their debut season.

The league also added the Toronto Tempo and the unnamed Portland team as their 14th and 15th teams. But to even it out, the league needs another, and bids were accepted for the 16th team. Many, such as Jayson Tatum, Candace Parker, and others, formed investor groups to bid for a spot.

Ultimately, Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert‘s bid was rumored to be at the top of the pack. The league is yet to make a formal announcement, but could confirm the deal after reports suggested they won and will pay a record $250 million as franchise fees.

If true, it will be an exponential increase over what the Valkyries ($50m), Toronto ($115m), and Portland ($125m) paid to get a spot. This and the success of the debut season of Unrivaled League prove that women’s sports are growing at a rapid pace.

New York Liberty starts title defense in style

If the New York Liberty increased their value to $450 million on the back of the surging growth in women’s basketball, along with one championship, a second one will probably help them even more. Even if it does not, the franchise is determined to win another this season.

Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu have started their title defense in style
Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu have started their title defense in style (Image via Polymarket Hoops/X)

In the offseason, they lost one of their core players to free agency, one to the expansion draft, and one to a season-ending injury. But they offset that by bringing back one of the core players who sat out last season in Marine Johannes.

Then they traded for star guard Natasha Cloud and elevated their younger players who starred in the WNBA Finals. The retooled team started their title defense in style, winning their opener against their perennial title rivals, the Las Vegas Aces, with a score of 92-78.

Then they dismantled the Chicago Sky and stopped Angel Reese from scoring a single basket. They look stronger than ever in a season where there are more than a few teams who are vying to unseat them as champions.

Also Read: