WNBA

The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) is a U.S.-based women’s basketball league that started play with eight teams in 1997. The league has since expanded to 13 teams this season with the addition of the Golden State Valkyries. Two more franchises will join in 2026 (Toronto and Portland). Cathy Engelbert, previously the CEO of Deloitte, has been the WNBA’s commissioner since 2019, and the league's current media partners include Prime Video, Ion, ESPN and CBS Sports.

The WNBA’s regular season runs from May to September, which includes an in-season tournament called the Commissioner’s Cup. The W’s three-round playoffs culminate in the WNBA Finals, a best-of-five series to determine the season champion.

The WNBA’s 2024 season marked a turning point as a business; rookies such as Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese shined in their debuts, and the whole league gained a wider collection of fans than ever before. Afterward, players activated a CBA opt-out, setting the stage for potentially tense labor negotiations in which the athletes have increased leverage.

In Sportico’s inaugural WNBA valuations, the Las Vegas Aces were the highest-valued franchise among the 12 active teams at $140 million, and the Atlanta Dream were the lowest at $55 million. The average WNBA franchise was worth an estimated $96 million.