WNBA Media Deal Valued At $2.2 Billion Over 11 Years, But Is WNBA Deal Undervalued In Light Of NBA’s Overall $76 Billion Media Deal?
ADVERTISEMENT
Shop at Jay’s Market at 190 East Flamingo Road at the Koval Lane intersection east of the Strip.
ADVERTISEMENT
By Alan Snel, LVSportsBiz.com Publisher-Writer
With the NBA finalizing an 11-year, $76 billion media rights deal, news reports are saying the deal includes $2.2 billion over the 11 years for an WNBA media deal.
LVSportsBiz.com has one simple question: Is $2.2 billion of a $76 billion media deal too low for the WNBA?
Terri Jackson, the WNBA players union executive director, brought up that topic in a statement issued this week after the NBA Board of Governors approved the $76 billion media rights deal two days ago. The WNBA part of the deal would mean $200 million a year for the women’s league — approximately four times more than what the WNBA is generating under the current media deal.
Here’s Jackson’s statement issued to the media: “We look forward to learning how the NBA arrived at a $200 million valuation — if initial reports are accurate or even close.
“Neither the NBA nor the WNBA can deny that in the last few years, we have seen unprecedented growth across all metrics, the players continue to demonstrate their commitment to building the brand, and that the fans keep showing up. There is no excuse to undervalue the WNBA again.”
This has been a pivot year for the WNBA, which has seen a crop of rookies led by Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and others help move the needle of the women’s pro basketball product more into a mainstream forum.
Attendance and TV ratings are up for the WNBA in 2024 as the league holds its All-Star Game in Phoenix Saturday before taking a break until August for the Summer Olympics in Paris.
