which wnba team is worth the most which wnba team is worth the most

February 18, 2023. High point: Making the playoffs in their final season in Tulsa, 2015, before getting swept by Phoenix. The report estimated the franchise's value at $2 billion, making it the most expensive team in the league. Through expansion the WNBA is trying to reset the market for how much its franchises are worth. Franchise journey: The Aces are this low only because they're in just their fourth season in Las Vegas. Playoff appearances (record): 16 (32-25) Value: $1.58 Billion. Regular-season record: 48-48 Face of the franchise: A'ja Wilson (2018-present) We could see the Aces much higher in this kind of ranking a few years from now; they are contenders for the title again this season. . High point: Finishing 16-16 in 2000 and making their only playoff appearance. It is the fourth-largest media market in the country and the biggest one in which the WNBAdoes not already have a team. 28. (Ray Chavez /The Mercury News via Getty Images), Could Scotiabank Arena be home to a future WNBA team? In addition, corporate sponsorship revenues amount to $5 million while media rights fees bring in another $500,000. Very successful.. 2 in the 1999 WNBA draft, which included many players (like her) who were from the defunct ABL. But they fell to Charlotte in the East semifinals. The WNBA approved the sale of the . MVPs: None She's now the franchise's general manager, and with six wins last year and five so far this season, could have the No. As popular as the Liberty have been with their fans, they never seemed to mean as much to James Dolan, even though he owned them from their inception. If you look at the NFL, were getting $10.1 billion a year for television and the WNBA is getting $30 million a year. MVPs: None Sabally at 22 has a bright future, and Gray at 26 has been one of the Wings' most dependable players the past five seasons. Low point: After winning the Eastern Conference for the first time in 2010, the Mystics lost their coach and general manager when they wanted to combine those jobs into one. The team was owned by Russian billionaire Sergey Brin and Chinese investor Joe Tsai, who started out as employees of Google's China office. The Monarchs came close in 2006 but fell in the decisive Game 5 at Detroit. Championships: None Franchise journey: The Miracle were part of the Orlando Magic organization and had some real talent in their short stay in Florida. Considering they've already reached the Finals and had an MVP, the building blocks to long-term success are in place. Cooper's career ended after Houston's fourth consecutive title in 2000 (she returned at age 40 to play four more games in 2003), and that was when other teams in the league caught up. MVPs: None 2 pick and took Kelly Miller. Still, Philadelphia holds lots of appeal. Theres no crisp or clear formula, but you see cities that rise to the top pretty quickly, Engelbert said. League sources said the Liberty were sold with little new money changing hands and new owner Joe Tsai financing the transaction mostly by taking on debt, as well as stipulating fresh capital for MSG Sports if the Liberty hit certain revenue thresholds. 1 draft pick in 2009 and led Atlanta to the WNBA Finals in 2010, 2011 and 2013. Championships: None They've also had one of the most involved fan bases in the X Factor, which fell in love with the likes of Jennifer Gillom, Bridget Pettis and Australia's Michele Timms in the early years. Finally, people are understanding the value of the WNBAand what we offer.. Bird has been a key factor for all four titles and is a primary icon of the WNBA. Another reason for the jump is the high expectations for the next round of national media deals, which would begin with the 2025-26 season. . Other notable stars: Essence Carson, Shameka Christon, Becky Hammon, Vickie Johnson, Rebecca Lobo, Betnijah Laney, Tari Phillips, Cappie Pondexter, Crystal Robinson, Tina Charles, Sue Wicks. Of 4,400 residents interviewed, 41.6 percent said they were very interested or extremely interested in womens professional sports, and 34.2 percent said they were slightly interested or not at all interested in womens professional sports. Secondly, in order to get the players more money, we obviously need more revenue. In the next few months, the most talked about issue in the WNBA should finally have some clarity. Were definitely looking to significantly enhance the financial performance of many of our teams, but many of our teams are still in big investment mode, she said. Low point: Going 12-22 in 2014 and missing the playoffs for the first time in 10 seasons. We always bet on Nashville. Other notable stars: Tully Bevilaqua, Jessica Davenport, Katie Douglas, Briann January, Erlana Larkins, Tammy Sutton-Brown, Shavonte Zellous. One of the most storied franchises in WNBA history, the Liberty began play as one of the WNBA's eight original teams and took part in the league's inaugural game, defeating the Los Angeles . WNBA career stats leaders: Sylvia Fowles in rebounds (3,640), rebounding average (9.81) and field goal percentage (59.6) Bob Johnson, owner for the expansion Charlotte Bobcats who were entering the NBA in 2004, bought the Sting. Low point: An 8-26 record in 2003 under the Mercury's third coach in three years. No controlling interests of NBA teams have changed hands sinceour lastranking,but several minority stakes were sold at prices that show thefranchisesare a hot commodity, especially those in big markets. Florida grad Jones gets credit as the only player who was with the Rockers start to finish. Frankly, Im using more of the most recent data. 29. But at only an 83 overall, Thompson is severely underrated in NBA 2K22. In the CAA Icon survey, residents favored Bridgestone Arena and the Nashville Municipal Auditorium. Franchise journey: The Sol are one of the two "if you blinked, you missed them" franchises in the WNBA, along with Portland. WNBA mock draft: Villanova's Siegrist soars into lottery pick, Serena, Griner honored at NAACP Image Awards, Sparks officially re-sign forward N. Ogwumike, Griner on court in 1st open workout since release, WNBA draft set for N.Y., to have 'Orange Carpet', 2-time All-Star C. Ogwumike back with Sparks, Griner officially rejoins Mercury in 'special signing', Yang joins Sparks after FIBA silver with China, WNBA trade grades: Why Wings, Liberty earn top marks in Saturday's four-team trade. The WNBA has one of the more flexible business models in sports. If a team has any excess space on its roster, it can sign players to minimum contracts or trade them away. I strongly suspect they are worth more than any WNBA team. He loves watching all types of sporting events and has made it his personal mission to attend every game he can. MVPs: None Glory Johnson is a professional basketball player. The NHLs Predators, the arenas main tenant, have publicly supported the Nashville Sports Councils Women in Sports Initiative, which indicates they would be open to discussing sharing Bridgestone Arena if an ownership group came forward. (The Comets dedicated that season to her.). The WNBA launched with eight NBA-affiliated teams in June 1997. Joe Tsai. All figures are in U.S. dollars based on the average U.S.-Canada exchange rates during the 2020-21 season. If a team has a new arena, media deal or sponsorship agreement set to open or kick in after the 2020-21 season, we estimate its impact on the enterprise value. Franchise journey: Madison Square Garden was a pretty special place with a likable and successful Liberty team in the late 1990s and early 2000s. MVPs: None Ogwumike opened her appearance by calling Sykes a WNBA real one and gifting Sykes an Ogwumike jersey. 2,$5.6 billion) and the Los Angeles Lakers (No. The city could also serve as a gateway to the shoe companies that keep their headquarters nearby. Forbes calculated the Knicks' value by applying an industry standard valuation method called "net asset value" or "NAV." Delle Donne day-to-day, sits out Mystics' win Sat. "With merchandise revenue at 29 cents and season ticket sales topping a dollar for the first time in history, the Minnesota Lynx are a financial powerhouse in the WNBA," wrote Forbes editor Mark Furlow, who also . The Comets were 98-24 in the regular season and 16-3 in the playoffs in the league's first four years. They pay for the potential and so the WNBAis becoming a major part of the conversation as we speak.. Franchise journey: The Dream are the last expansion franchise to join the WNBA, in 2008. Today, all but two teams are making a profit. When the new team, or teams, enter the WNBA, it will mark the long-awaited end to a process that has already reached critical mass. Additional research by Justin Teitelbaum. Both were in existence for just three seasons before folding. Franchise journey: The Fever debuted in the third wave of expansion in 2000 along with Seattle, as well as Miami and Portland, both of which were soon defunct. Engelbert would not disclose the number of teams projected as profitable for the 2022 season. Data provided by HighPostHoops.com 2028 2027 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 In all but one case -- Tulsa to Dallas -- the ownership was different when the franchise moved, and in all cases the teams have had distinct identities. During the 2021 season, the Portland Thorns led the NWSL in attendance with more than 14,000 fans per game more than double the next closest team and through the early parts of the 2022 season, the club has averaged more than 13,000 fans per game, second only to expansion team Angel City FC (Los Angeles), which has a population more than six times Portlands. ^ Cited revenue was AUD$1.547B; exchange rate of 1 euro per AUD$1.61 for 2019 season used here. It has deals in place with Amazon Prime and Twitter, along with its broadcast partnerships with ESPN/ABC and CBS, and she believes its next media rights deal will be more profitable. Other notable stars: Kahleah Copper, Diamond DeShields, Stefanie Dolson, Candice Dupree, Sylvia Fowles, Candace Parker, Cheyenne Parker, Epiphanny Prince, Allie Quigley, Tamera Young. having both surpassed the $4 billion mark for the first time this year. The Fever haven't made the playoffs since she retired after the 2016 season. Engelbert said adding two teams would be ideal, but one additional team would still be considered a success. The value of their franchise is $125 million. LeBron James' Los Angeles Lakers are now valued at $5.5 billion, joining the New York Knicks . High point: Beating four-time WNBA champ Houston in the Western Conference semifinals in 2002, before falling to eventual champion Los Angeles. Low point: Losing the 2012 Eastern finals to Indiana, after which coach Mike Thibault was fired and went to Washington. The Sparks are owned by Hollywood entertainment industry couple Harry and Pamela Manheimer. However, she added: Once the WNBAtakes a more definitive approach (to expansion), were confident that there will be an ownership group that comes forward.. WNBA salary: $170,000. Here is what every team in the NBA is worth in 2021, according to Sportico: Nick Monroe/Handout Photo via USA TODAY Sports, Carmen Mandato/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports, Sign up for the The Rookie Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. They are well-positioned to bring a team to San Francisco if they decide to make a full-throttle pitch. The presentation will show that Nashville has the infrastructure to support a team. The fact that doesnt happen in the WNBA as quickly or freely makes it difficult to assess the market worth of a team; it can also confound potential buyers about how much they need to get into the league. Such feats have undoubtedly increased her value and as such, she is now one of the highest-paid in the WNBA. Nashville Municipal Auditorium seats only 8,000, but it currently only hosts home events for the Nashville Roller Girls on a monthly basis so scheduling would be easier than at Bridgestone. The league knows everything about what this is going to look like (regarding) Toronto.. Sources also have connected South Carolina coach Dawn Staley, a Philadelphia native, to the group. When compared to the NBA, the WNBA generates a far bigger portion of its revenue from ticket sales. The arena is owned by the city, which would allow for necessary upgrades through tax increment financing. The offer was enticing enough that chairman Max Abrahams and his team put in an offer to acquire that franchise for a price of $3.5 million. When the league began in 1997, it was not expected to be profitable or even break even. She told The Athletic that the value of the WNBA's 12 individual teams plus the league itself is worth over $1 billion. MVPs: Maya Moore (2014), Sylvia Fowles (2017) Then COVID hit. Championships: Three (2001, 2002, 2016) Even though she was 34 when the league started, Cooper was still playing at an elite level after more than a decade of stardom overseas, and was crucial to getting the WNBA off the ground. Said Abrahams: They know weve done our financial model, they know whos involved with our group. Nashville has this reputation and has earned it well just looking at Major League Soccer, from moving from the bottom of the list to the top, Fawknotson said, referencing Nashville FC. That revenue from the media contracts would do that.. And Carter's future seems uncertain. Its amazing to be in the conversation, Beard said. Then Fowles, after seven seasons with the Sky, sat out the start of the 2015 season until she was traded to Minnesota, where she has won two titles. Mr. Allen is one of the richest people in the world, having earned over $10 billion dollars. But Pistons/Shock owner Bill Davidson died in March 2009 and Laimbeer left for an NBA assistant's job shortly after. And if we can do that, were gonna get a great next round of media deals.. has raised $75 million from more than two dozen investors in a bid to revamp its business model as players call for expansion, higher salaries and better benefits. Under this method, the value of any company is determined by evaluating its assets - in this case, the Knicks - along with its liabilities and equity. The brothers also own NHL's Chicago Blackhawks, and before that, had an interest in the Indianapolis Pacers of the NBA. The Finals have been played at the conclusion of the regular season and postseason bracket every year since the league's inception in 1997; the championship stage follows a 2-2-1 split format, giving the higher-seeded team a chance to host three games as opposed to just two. Signing Chicago native Candace Parker as a free agent for this season was part of the Sky pushing their chips toward the middle of the table while she and the VanderQuigs are still in a championship window. Expansion has been the hot-button issue of the WNBA through the entirety of Engelberts tenure as commissioner. Other notable stars: Allisha Gray, Liz Cambage, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Isabelle Harrison, Glory Johnson, Marina Mabrey, Satou Sabally, Kayla Thornton. After losing in the 1998 WNBA Finals, the Mercury missed the playoffs seven of the next eight years. Though Oakland is the 45th-biggest American city by population, its larger than two current WNBAmarkets (Minneapolis and Uncasville, Conn.), and the Bay Area comprising San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose is the nations sixth-largest media market. A year later, the Sacramento Monarchs which had won a championship just four seasons earlier ceased operations after it failed to secure a relocation bid.