A new round of TV deals worth$ 76 billion over 11 years has been reached by the NBA and WNBA, and the W will earn$ 2.2 billion over the life of the deal, or$ 200,000 per year, according to a source with knowledge of the agreement. This is a 6x increase over its previous ESPN agreement.
The average annual value ( AAV ) of the agreed-upon combined NBA and WNBA rights package is more than 150 % higher than the prior pact, which was worth$ 2.7 billion a year and expires after the 2024-25 season. Only 1 % of the previous TV deal was paid for by The W, but almost 3 % of the current one. Although the two leagues have different term sheets, they have n’t negotiated their TV rights together. If the WNBA continues to grow at its current rate, the overall price might increase. A provision in the agreement allows the club and its companions to review the rights agreement after three years.

The NBA’s board of governors approved the talks Tuesday, and Warner Bros. Discovery, as the former deal-holder, presently has five times to meet for a rights bundle. The Athletic was the first to survey on the WNBA’s exit from the new arrangement.
Additionally, the WNBA anticipates selling two more game plans that could bring in$ 60 million or more annually. In addition to its ESPN agreement, the league now has media agreements with Ion, CBS, and Amazon. The deals, including ESPN, are worth$ 60 million this year, but the AAV was$ 43 million. When all of the agreements are reached, the WNBA’s average annual TV rights fee will be worth at least$ 260 million. The two companies that are favorites for further packages are CBS and Ion.
It is a huge win for the 28-year-old category. Prior to now, commissioner Cathy Engelbert had stated she wanted to double the league’s rights fees, but they will likely go up by 500 %.
The average WNBA franchise is worth$ 96 million, according to Sportico’s June team valuations, a 45 % premium to the average NWSL team last year. Investors have been acquiring limited agreement bets at exorbitant prices in anticipation of the new advertising deal portion of the equation. San Francisco and Toronto were the WNBA’s expansion teams, but a team has n’t changed hands since 2021, when the Las Vegas Aces and Atlanta Dream sold for single-digit millions of dollars. The Aces, which sold for$ 2 million, are the WNBA’s most valuable team at$ 140 million.
Not all of the WNBA’s Television wealth will filter down to staff masters, since the club’s ownership was past cut 50-50 between NBA owners and WNBA owners. In early 2022, the W also announced it raised$ 75 million from a group of strategic buyers including Nike, Michael Dell, Linda Henry, Dee Haslam, Condoleezza Rice, Micky Arison and Laurene Powell Jobs. Some like Ted Leonsis ( Washington Spirit ), Joe Tsai ( New York Liberty ) and Herb Simon ( Indiana Fever ) tripled down on the league. They were involved in the boost, owned WNBA teams, and were a part of the league as a result of their ownership of the NBA team.

The deal carved out 16 % for the new consortium at a$ 400 million valuation, or$ 475 million post-money value. It means that 42 % of northern revenue—mainly TV money—funnels down to the WNBA venues.