Despite sellout crowds for the WNBA finals, league owners aren’t expecting a return on their investments soon. The NBA owns 60 percent of the WNBA, and with NBA owners’ stakes in teams, that share rises to 75 percent.
Since 1996, NBA owners have invested hundreds of millions, but the WNBA is projected to lose $40 million this season, slightly better than the $50 million forecast.
In 2026, the WNBA will receive up to $2.2 billion from new media deals, potentially boosting revenue by $100 million a year. However, expected player salary increases could reduce those gains.
NBA owners, led by Knicks owner James Dolan, are pressing Commissioner Adam Silver for more transparency on when they’ll see returns, especially since WNBA expansion fees don’t benefit them.
WNBA will lose $40 million this season and its NBA investors are growing impatient https://t.co/LcJoYcWirV pic.twitter.com/iXD2V9aenv
— New York Post (@nypost) October 19, 2024
