The WNBA is expected to see a significant increase in the value of its television broadcast rights once they expire after the 2025 season. Currently, the league is facing financial challenges, with an estimated $50 million loss for the current year. Despite recent efforts to increase security for players and provide chartered flights for teams, the league has never turned a profit, averaging over $10 million in losses each year. The WNBA’s popularity has been on the rise, with the 2024 season marking the highest-attended opening month in 26 years and the most-watched start of the season across all networks.
The NBA is currently negotiating the broadcast rights for both the NBA and the WNBA, with the WNBA benefiting from the potential windfall. However, evaluating the broadcast rights for both leagues individually is still uncertain. The WNBA has a unique relationship with the NBA, as it is the only women’s professional basketball league to have partnered with the men’s league. The NBA owns approximately 60 percent of the WNBA, and reports suggest that their television rights could be worth more than $7 billion per year combined. This could potentially help push the WNBA into profitability, although it may require careful accounting practices.
The league’s financial situation has been a long-standing issue, with losses reported every year since its inception. While recent measures like increased security and chartered flights have been implemented, individual player sponsorships like Caitlin Clark’s deal with Nike may not necessarily translate to financial success for the league as a whole. The WNBA has outlasted other women’s professional basketball leagues that did not have the support of the NBA, indicating the importance of their partnership for survival.
The upcoming negotiations for broadcast rights represent a crucial moment for the WNBA, offering the potential for a significant increase in revenue that could help the league achieve profitability. This could be a turning point for the WNBA, providing a much-needed financial boost that could secure its future and further establish its place in the sports landscape. While challenges remain in terms of financial sustainability, the league’s recent popularity and growth indicate a positive trajectory that could be further bolstered by a lucrative television rights deal.
