WNBA Valuations Soar: Golden State Valkyries Become League's First $1 Billion Team

The WNBA is experiencing a surge in team valuations, highlighted by the Golden State Valkyries becoming the first franchise in the league – and in women’s sports – to reach a $1 billion valuation. This milestone reflects a broader trend of increasing revenue, media rights deals, and fan engagement within the WNBA.

Key Highlights:

• Golden State Valkyries: Valued at $1 billion, leading the league in valuation.
• League Average: The 15 WNBA teams are now worth an average of $460 million, an 84% increase compared to recent expansion fees.
• Expansion Fees: New expansion teams (Cleveland, Detroit, Philadelphia) will pay $250 million each, a significant jump from the $50 million paid by the Valkyries in 2023 and $75 million by Portland Fire.
• Media Rights: New media deals with Disney, Amazon, NBCUniversal, and others are worth an average of $281 million annually, a 6.5x increase over previous deals.
• Rising Revenue: League sponsorship has increased by 40% and average attendance reached a record 11,148 in 2025.
• Recent Transactions: The Mohegan Sun (Connecticut Sun) is being sold to Tilman Fertitta for $300 million, with plans to relocate to Houston as the Comets.
• Valuation Drivers: Teams sharing ownership and arenas with NBA franchises (like the Valkyries) tend to be the most valuable due to economies of scale.

Team Valuations (Top 10):

1. Golden State Valkyries: $1 billion
2. New York Liberty
3. Indiana Fever
4. Las Vegas Aces: $500 million
5. Seattle Storm
6. Phoenix Mercury
7. Los Angeles Sparks
8. Minnesota Lynx
9. Connecticut Sun: $400 million
10. Chicago Sky

Methodology: CNBC’s valuations are based on interviews with WNBA and NBA executives, sports bankers, and detailed financial information. The values represent enterprise values (equity plus net debt) and are based on control stake valuations, using 2025 revenue figures.