Top-Valued WNBA Teams in 2025: Valkyries leading the Pack at a Whopping $500 Million, Average Assets Skyrocketing by 180%
Updated WNBA Revitalization
In the current WNBA landscape, the league is thriving like never before. Linchpins like Caitlin Clark and the arrival of fresh expansion teams have turned the tide, catapulting attendance, fan engagement, and overall value to unprecedented heights.
Last season, the Indiana Fever raked in an average of 1,776 fans per game and ended with a dismal 5-31 record. But the times have changed. In 2023, they saw a breathtaking 9x increase in fans, with an average of over 17,000 spectators per game –– a figure that outshone six NBA teams and several MLB teams in 2024. And the merch sales weren't far behind, blowing past any NBA team in the process.
With the Fever leading the charge, the WNBA as a whole is witnessing a meteoric rise in TV ratings, merchandise sales, attendance, and revenue. And things are only set to escalate next year, as the league embarks on new media deals expected to generate $260 million annually.
Indiana's resurgence can be attributed to the arrival of Caitlin Clark as the number one draft pick in 2024. Yet, ballooning metrics extend beyond the Hoosier State. The WNBA's collective value shot up by 180%, doubling the previous record for largest year-over-year growth in sports leagues.
According to Sportsico, the average WNBA team is worth $269 million in 2025, boasting a staggering 300% increase compared to the previous year. The Fever achieved the biggest leap with a 273% increase, placing third overall at a value of $335 million. Meanwhile, defending champions New York Liberty claimed the second spot with a $420 million valuation, marking a remarkable 222% surge.
Golden State has claimed the title of the WNBA's top team with the introduction of the Golden State Valkyries. Despite only playing 13 games, they've set new standards for the league. Last month, their inaugural regular-season game at Chase Center smashed the single-game WNBA ticket revenue record, earning over $3 million –– a feat they've repeated with another $3 million gate already secured. Courtside seats averaged $1,500 per game, comparable to some NBA teams.
The Warriors' business acumen spearheaded the Valkyries' success, as roughly half of their 20+ sponsors were already affiliated with the Warriors. Jessica Smith, the team's president, says the community has embraced the fledgling franchise wholeheartedly, selling over 10,000 season tickets –– a first for the WNBA –– and breaking the first seven home games' attendance records.
This impactful debut has encouraged a rebranding of the team's parent company, GSW Sports, to Golden State –– a reflection of the growing influence and potential of women's professional basketball.
In October 2023, the Golden State Warriors ponied up a then-record $50 million expansion fee to bring a WNBA team to the Bay Area. The move was strategic, as the Warriors, valued at $9.14 billion by Sportsico, provided a prime opportunity to bolster the WNBA with NBA synergy. The Golden State Valkyries have undoubtedly lived up to the hype, setting new standards for the league's financial prowess and popularity.
It's no surprise that other cities are keen to join the party. In September, the WNBA enlisted investment banking powerhouse Allen & Company to oversee the expansion process for an additional franchise. More than ten bids have poured in from cities such as Austin, Denver, Detroit, Kansas City, Nashville, and Philadelphia. Cleveland may be at the front of the line with plans to pay a whopping $250 million expansion fee.
Investor interest in the WNBA has surged exponentially, overshadowing the soaring prices. Even the least valuable team on the list, Atlanta, boasts a 203% increase in valuation –– a testament to the league's unprecedented growth. With the newfound demand, teams like the Las Vegas Aces, Atlanta Dream, and Phoenix Mercury have sold stakes at a premium, signaling a dramatic change in the marketplace since similar deals four years ago.
Welcome to the golden era of the WNBA –– where losses are a thing of the past, and capital investments have become the norm. The players are fighting for better pay and improved conditions in ongoing Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations, and teams with outdated practice facilities and smaller audiences have made it a priority to upgrade.
The realm of women's professional basketball is on the rise, and there's no turning back. Hold onto your seats, folks –– the WNBA Show is just getting started.
- To cater to this burgeoning interest and value, business deals such as sponsorship for the WNBA teams have increased significantly, mirroring the growth in various sectors, including real estate and finance.
- The expansion of the WNBA has attracted more than just sports fans; it has caught the attention of people involved in transactions beyond the realm of sports, such as professionals in finance and business.
- Some of these investors are even willing to venture into sports-related business, buying sponsorship deals, owning real estate properties for basketball facilities, or investing in teams themselves.
- As the WNBA transcends its origins and becomes an integral part of the global sports landscape, transactions related to basketball—be it transactions in sponsorship deals, real estate, or finance—will likely follow suit.
