While the WNBA’s best showed off their moves at WNBA All-Star 2024, the league also was making a number of big over the past week. Here’s the latest on the WNBA’s next media rights deals and other, new possibilities and partnerships:
Should the WNBA have secured a more lucrative media rights deal?
As part of the NBA’s recent negotiations for it’s 11-year, approximately $75 billion media rights deals with Disney, NBC and Amazon, the WNBA has secured a new national media rights package worth $2.2 billion across 11 years with the three companies, allowing the league to earn approximately $200 million per year beginning with the 2026 season.
The WNBA’s current deals with Disney, Amazon, CBS and ION are worth around $50 million annually and will expire after the 2025 season. The next package could be expanded to include additional partners. According to The Athletic, the league expects to sell two more rights deals, which could result in around $60 million more annually. The prospect of the league bringing in approximately $260 million in rights fees per year far exceeds WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s stated desire to double to annual value of the current deal.
However, the WNBPA is, rightfully, not simply satisfied with the announced new deals, desiring…
