The past week has been bursting with news about the business of women’s basketball:
Aces top WNBA team valuations
For the first time, Sportico shared its estimated valuations of WNBA franchises. Together, the league’s 12 teams are worth $1.16 billion, with the Las Vegas Aces coming in as the most valuable at $140 million. The Seattle Storm and New York Liberty follow at $135 million and $130 million, respectively. Not coincidentally, all three of those franchises have sparkling, new practice facilities. The Phoenix Mercury, set to have their own dedicated space in a shared facility with the NBA’s Suns, already are fourth-most valuable team at $105 million.
As the average franchise valuation is $96 million, the $50 million expansion fees for the Golden State Valkyries, debuting in 2025, and the Toronto franchise, scheduled to debut in 2026, stand as significant deals. And as noted by Just Women’s Sports, the valuations could empower the WNBPA when they likely opt out of the current CBA at the end of this season and begin to negotiate the next labor agreement.
More updates about investigation into LVCVA-Aces deal
On Tuesday, Steve Hill, Las Vegas’ tourism chief, was interviewed by the law firm Kobre & Kim, LLP as part of the WNBA’s investigation into the…
