The WNBA and the value of women’s sports

Written By Charlene Corley

Women’s basketball is key to fueling the value of the women’s sports investment narrative.

College Level

  • 9.9M viewers to 2026 NCAA WBB Championship (ESPN)

  • 1M or more viewers to 21 NCAA Tournament games (Nielsen)

Pro Level

  • $45 million in revenue earned during Unrivaled Season 2 (Unrivaled)

  • +19% increase in WNBA Draft viewership (Nielsen)

  • 3.8 billion minutes viewed in 1st half of 2026 season (Nielsen)

With the WNBA celebrating its 30th season, the league is mature compared to upstarts like PWHL, AUSL, or even NWSL. Across each WNBA franchise, valuations are expanding rapidly. In just two years, each team has seen triple-digit increases in estimated valuation.

Source: Sportico

Prior to the 2026 season, Sportico’s analysis put just four franchises at or above $100 million. This year, not a single team is valued below $250 million.

WNBA franchise valuations have increased dramatically in just two years.

Source: Sportico

Charlene Corley
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