The WNBA’s dramatic popularity spike has been attributed to superstar rookies Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, although neither of their teams—the Indiana Fever or the Chicago Sky—are the richest in the league.
Instead, Front Office Sports said on Monday that the Dallas Wings, who are currently tied for worst place in the league, are the most valuable team in the league with $208 million.
After two investors recently paid $2.08 million for a 1% ownership in the squad, the valuation is said to have increased by more than $100 million.
CEO and part-owner of the Wings Greg Bibb sold the one percent ownership to businessmen Randy Eisenman and Jed Kaplan.
The Wings were valued by Sportico in June at $75 million, which was the eleventh-highest sum in the WNBA. With $140 million, the Las Vegas Aces, the reigning champions, were ranked first.
The Indiana Fever led by Caitlin Clark is not the most valued WNBA squad; instead, it is the +5 View photos
It’s official: Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever are not the most valuable WNBA team.
The Dallas Wings, with a value of $208 million + 5 View Gallery, are the richest team in the league.
At $208 million, the Dallas Wings are the richest team in the league.
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This season, the Wings are tied with the Washington Mystics at 6-19.
Bibb stated to Sports Business Journal, “I would say the value of anything is what the market’s willing to pay.”
“I have a strong argument as to why that $208 million figure is appropriate.”
Kaplan is an NBA minority owner of the Memphis Grizzlies, while Eisenman started a hedge fund in the area.
Their investment reportedly coincides with the Wings’ off-court success, which includes a likely new TV deal and a $19 million incentive from the city of Dallas to relocate from College Park Center at the University of Texas at Arlington to the renovated Memorial Coliseum in downtown Dallas by 2026.
College Park Center can accommodate slightly over 6,000 people in its seats, whereas The Coliseum can accommodate 8,500.
In the meantime, 2024 has seen a significant increase in the WNBA’s overall ratings, retail sales, and game attendance.
Check out the photos to see how Clark and fellow rookie Angel Reese helped the WNBA post a 1000% surge in merchandise sales.
The WNBA had a 1000% spike in merchandise sales thanks to the efforts of rookies Angel Reese and Clark.
Additionally, the WNBA has signed a new television rights deal for roughly $2.2 billion spread over 11 years + 5 View gallery
Additionally, the WNBA signed a new media rights deal worth roughly $2.2 billion spread over 11 years.
2024 + 5 View gallery A superstar rookie class led by Clark and Reese has greatly boosted the sport.
In 2024, a good rookie class headed by Clark and Reese has greatly boosted the sport.
According to The Athletic, the league signed a new media rights deal in July that is estimated to be worth $2.2 billion over the course of 11 years.
It comes to almost $200 million a year, which is about four times the WNBA’s current media deals, which are valued at $50 million a year, with Disney, Ion, CBS, and Amazon.
The WNBA said last month that over 400,000 spectators attended games in May, the most in 26 years, shattering several records thus far this season alone.
The number of people watching the league has also significantly increased after Clark and Reese joined.
The average viewership of WNBA games on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, and CBS is 1.32 million, about three times the viewership of the same games on last season (462,200).
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