The organization did not respond to a request for comment from Forbes. It has been nearly 15 years since the WNBA last expanded, adding the Atlanta Dream as its then-14th team before the 2008 season. That means selling tickets and making it successful. MVPs: Tamika Catchings (2011) The league called it "the largest-ever capital raise for a women's sports property." . Low point: Going 12-22 in 2014 and missing the playoffs for the first time in 10 seasons. Which is the most valuable team in the NBA? 28. Also clouding the leagues expansion plans are the financial positions of current teams. The latest ranking reported that the Golden State Warriors is the most . In the 2000s, they made the NBA Finals three times, winning one title in 2000. Playoff appearances (record): 12 (30-28) In the last seven years of the Shock's existence in Detroit, they reached the playoffs each season, got to the WNBA Finals four times and won three titles. Two years later, Michael Alter reportedly paid $10 million for an expansion team in Chicago. Monica Fawknotson, the executive director of Nashvilles Sports Authority Board, said that while groups have shown interest in ownership, the presentation will not include a definitive ownership group. Maybe the magic of the franchise's early years can be recaptured, along with its first championship. Joe Tsai is a co-founder of China's biggest e-commerce company, Alibaba Group. Low point: The franchise folding after going 15-17 in 2002. Then everything changed in the 2010 season: Cheryl Reeve was hired as head coach, forward Brunson was picked in the Sacramento Monarchs dispersal draft and a trade brought point guard Whalen home to Minnesota. Jerry Reinsdorf, Chicago Bulls: $1.5 Billion . But there was always a fascination league-wide with Dydek, the tallest woman to play in the WNBA at 7-foot-2. In 2018, the NBA's 30 teams generated $7.4 billion in revenue which was up 25% from 2017. Lee Berke, an expert in media rights, tells Forbes, My projection is that the NBAs media deals will double in value, thanks in part to a substantial boost in streamed content.. The Seattle Storm were able to turn around their financial situation and start making money. Other notable stars: Liz Cambage, Chelsea Gray, Dearica Hamby, Kayla McBride, Angel McCoughtry, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young. They also own MLB's Los Angeles Dodgers and NFL's Los Angeles Rams. She tried for years to make a comeback but was beset with injuries and ended up playing just 53 games total. Figures in USD $6200M for a 5-year period, so for the 2023 season this is USD $1240M for the League, $124M per team, $16.7M per match) Note that this is only the revenue from the sale of media rights to broadcasters. Then COVID hit. Fawknotson remains optimistic about Nashvilles chances for WNBAexpansion. The Birch family also has interests in MLB's Chicago Cubs and MLS' Chicago Fire. They then obtained center Fowles via trade during the 2015 season. MVPs: Yolanda Griffith (1999) Regular-season record: 87-99 Former Senator Kelly Loeffler is out as an owner of the WNBA's Atlanta Dream. 1 draft pick Sabrina Ionescu in the third game of last season with an ankle injury, and ending 2020 with a franchise-low two victories. The Yankees and Knicks have the same owner: James Dolan. The incoming WNBA team would be able to play at either the Moda Center, where the Blazers play, or Veterans Coliseum, a 12,000-seat arena next to the Moda Center. Seven players from five different teams will earn the WNBA supermax salary of $221,450, per Spotrac. Every team in the league is worth at least $1.5 billion, per Forbes' estimates. The deal occurred only after the NBA asked several league owners to step in to take over the franchise because it had languished on the market for more than 14 months, sources said. Even though she has played just three full seasons, she led the Mystics to the 2018 and 2019 WNBA Finals, winning the championship in the second trip. Former baseball star Alex Rodriguez and businessman Marc Lore are in the process of buying the Timberwolves/Lynx. , Apr 5, 2022. Los Angeles Lakers: $4.6 billion. Engelbert said the leagues financial position is in a much better place after coming through the pandemic protocols. The New York Knicks are the most valuable franchise in the NBA, with an estimated value of $4 billion. The Milwaukee Bucks are the next richest basketball team in the NBA. Low point: The franchise folding, despite a committed fan base, after the 2009 season. I strongly suspect they are worth more than any WNBA team. High point Young-Malcolm's desperation shot at the buzzer in Game 2 of the 2008 Western Conference finals against Los Angeles keeping San Antonio alive. Face of the franchise: Elena Delle Donne (2017-present) 1 pick, and got them to the WNBA Finals for six of the next seven seasons. The Stars' struggles in their final years in San Antonio helped lead to consecutive WNBA No. They hosted the first WNBA game in 1997, and were part of the Jerry Buss-owned Los Angeles Lakers organization until 2006. Face of the franchise: Margo Dydek (1998-2002) The Comets were 98-24 in the regular season and 16-3 in the playoffs in the league's first four years. Championships: None But they never gained traction, and when the WNBA opted to allow non-NBA ownership after the 2002 season, the Miracle were bought by the Mohegan Tribe and moved to Connecticut for 2003. (Nathan Denette / The Canadian Press via Associated Press). The overall number of games played in the season likely would increase and the Commissioners Cup a regular-season tournament launched by Engelbert in 2021 would require a few adjustments, but adding a single team wouldnt create the same level of unequal play as in other leagues. Playoff appearances (record): None The current salary cap for the NBA is about $75 million US dollars; this limit is set by each team in order to maintain financial stability. One person familiar with running a WNBA team and how its finances work said that breaking even is usually the goal for a franchise. While the Fire lasted just three seasons, the surge in women's basketball's popularity in the state thanks to the success of the Oregon and Oregon State women's programs in recent years makes Portland a place many think the WNBA should reconsider someday. The league announced Friday afternoon that it had approved sale of the franchise. They pay for the potential and so the WNBAis becoming a major part of the conversation as we speak.. Playoff appearances (record): Seven (8-18) 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. 2002 Fleer Authentix WNBA brought the concept of serial-numbered Rookie Cards to the league with each getting 2,002 copies. High point: A franchise-best 29-5 regular-season record plus a 7-1 playoff mark in the Mercury's 2014 championship season. Playoff appearances (record): Two (5-8) She has done so by bringing in new investors and partners, expanding media partnerships and a $75 million capital raise announced in February. Those four made up the core of the 2004 and 2005 teams that advanced to the WNBA Finals. Playoff appearances (record): 13 (35-33) The Atlanta Dream is changing ownership hands, putting an end to more than a year's worth of controversy under its former co-owner, ex-Senator Kelly Loeffler. This is a BETA experience. The Knicks have many assets, including World Class Talent, a passionate fan base, and their home arena, Madison Square Garden. But McCoughtry was injured late in the 2018 season, didn't play in 2019 and left as a free agent for Las Vegas in 2020. But Davis has been very involved, so the change seems positive for the future. Face of the franchise: Lisa Leslie (1997-2009) Three teams the Knicks, Warriors and Lakers are now worth over $5 billion each, according to Sportico, while the average NBA team is valued around $2.4 billion. Playoff appearances (record): One (1-2) Playoff appearances (record): 13 (18-30) The Athletic spoke to more than 20 people in and around the WNBA with knowledge of league expansion and its financial picture to learn more about the leagues plans. Nike, of course, has serious ties to the league. And twice, the organization has gotten back-to-back No. The WNBA is presently anticipated to earn $60 million in income, with $12.3 million of that money given to its players. She made it clear before being drafted No. (John Russell /, Alana Beard, a former WNBA star, is working to bring a franchise to Oakland. When Alana Beard retired from the WNBA she had a number of potential career routes, including coaching, available to her after a 15-year playing career. In 2013, Nashville unveiled plans for a minor league baseball stadium, First Horizon Park, which included tax-increment financing as a part of the investment. Our figures include revenue that team owners get from non-NBA events at their arena. The NBA has gained undeniable traction over the last decade, at least from a financial standpoint. LeBron James' Los Angeles Lakers are now valued at $5.5 billion, joining the New York Knicks . They have everything that they need to make sure that this happens.. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert told The Athletic she hopes to identify one or two cities for an expansion franchise by the start of the WNBA playoffs in September or by years end at the latest. 1 pick in the NBA draft. While the average highest listed price is $233. Finally, people are understanding the value of the WNBAand what we offer.. Browns representative declined further comment. The main ranking criteria are success and standout players, although franchise longevity played a factor, too. High point: Beating four-time WNBA champ Houston in the Western Conference semifinals in 2002, before falling to eventual champion Los Angeles. The New York Liberty, Las Vegas Aces and Atlanta Dream have all been sold in recent years, but the sales prices for all three franchises are in that range. Regular-season record: 71-113 Thats an increase from 2020, when the average team valuation crossed $2 billion for the first time, according to Forbes. She would go on to win two championships with the Shock, while the three players obtained for her played just 37 combined games for Minnesota. While the franchise ultimately ended up in other hands (and, according to Abrahams, went for a lower price in order for that franchise to stay in market), it got Toronto in the game early in terms of expansion talks with the league. Over that span, the league has made changes to sustain the WNBA as both a sports league and a profession for womens basketball players. Face of the franchise: Becky Hammon (2007-2014) He also owns the Rangers baseball team. By far. High point: Winning the franchise's fourth title in 2020 during a pandemic-shortened season in an unprecedented "bubble" location in Florida. The base salary for WNBA rookies varies on when (or if) players were selected in the WNBA Draft. Forbes compiles the finances of all 30 NBA teams to produce an annual ranking of the best franchises in terms of valuation.The valuations are composed of the monetary worth of the sport, market, stadium deals, and brand. Ogunbowale and Mabry, former Notre Dame teammates, have clicked again in the WNBA. Face of the franchise: Arike Ogunbowale (2019-present) Low point: Losing the 2012 Eastern finals to Indiana, after which coach Mike Thibault was fired and went to Washington. Taurasi will continue with the Mercury, the only WNBA franchise for which she has played, in Season 19 in 2023. The information used to compile our valuations primarily came from the teams, sports bankers, media consultants and public documents, like arena lease agreements and bond documents. Continue with Recommended Cookies. The average price of a ticket is just over $100. Face of the franchise: Sheryl Swoopes (1997-2007) The Sparks are owned by Hollywood entertainment industry couple Harry and Pamela Manheimer. The WNBA has said that it intends to keep ticket prices affordable. High point: Defeating Connecticut 3-1 for the championship in the league's first best-of-five WNBA Finals series in 2005. Engelbert said adding two teams would be ideal, but one additional team would still be considered a success. The Forbes estimate does not include sales or sponsorship revenue which both teams enjoy, but instead focuses on the actual value of the Knicks' ownership interest. The presentation will show that Nashville has the infrastructure to support a team. 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. Then we had to build an arena (Chase Center). Considering they've already reached the Finals and had an MVP, the building blocks to long-term success are in place. Bird has been a key factor for all four titles and is a primary icon of the WNBA. Its amazing to see it all happening. WNBA career stats leaders: Cheryl Ford in total rebound percentage (20.47) For picks No. Championships: Three (2007, 2009, 2014) We have some sort of a fan perspective, sponsorship perspective, social movement perspective, everyones locked in on sort of the value of womens sports.. Other notable stars: Janeth Arcain, Kim Perrot, Michelle Snow, Tina Thompson. Theprivate equity firmalsobought just under 5%of the Golden State Warriorsat a$5.5 billion valuation in April, thehigh-water markfor a minority stake and 17% above our last estimate. Regular-season record: 224-200 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. The group has an exclusive negotiation agreement with the city of Oakland to acquire 50 percent of Oakland Arena where the Warriors played until they moved in 2019 and have a non-binding lease agreement with the arena. After a contentious final season under co-owner Kelly Loeffler in 2020, the Dream have new owners this year -- but are also on their third coach of the season and don't have a general manager in place. 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. Alibaba is responsible for around 70% of mail packages in China. The New York Knicks are also the most valued franchise among the National Basketball Association's 30 franchises (NBA). Beard, who is Black, said she wants to bring a team to Oakland, in part, to change the profile of who a team owner is and to create more access and opportunities for other women that look exactly like me.. Such feats have undoubtedly increased her value and as such, she is now one of the highest-paid in the WNBA. So Dallas has its fate in its hands, and could move up quite a lot in the next few years. It was none other than the NBA itself who took the initiative of doing this. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Toronto Raptors - $2.1 Billion. The value of their franchise is $125 million. Said one league source: Logistically Toronto would be difficult until the league moves to charter flights. The earliest opportunity to amend the WNBA travel restrictions would be during the next CBA negotiations (which the league or WNBPA can opt out of in November 2024), and as of now, sources say, less than half of league owners have been vocal in their support of chartering flights. Playoff appearances (record): 16 (32-25) From there it's a fair drop off to Seattle Sounders on $705 million and New York City on $655 million. But at only an 83 overall, Thompson is severely underrated in NBA 2K22. High point: Stiles, on the heels of a magical run to the Final Four with Missouri State, winning WNBA Rookie of the Year in 2001 -- yes, over Seattle's Lauren Jackson, which really shouldn't have happened. The Storm launched soon after the demise of the Seattle Reign of the short-lived ABL, so there was already a professional women's basketball audience in place. Face of the franchise: Seimone Augustus (2006-2019) MVPs: Maya Moore (2014), Sylvia Fowles (2017) but the NHL's Washington Capitals, two arena football teams, a WNBA team and Capital One Arena. The oldest player is 28-year-old Thornton. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. Playoff appearances (record): Eight (30-19) Then majority owner Bill Cameron moved the franchise to Dallas, where the Wing are still seeking their first winning record. Championships: Three (2001, 2002, 2016) Bridgestone Arena which is owned by Nashvilles Sports Authority Board and has successfully hosted the womens Final Four as well as SEC tournaments would be an obvious choice. But the next year brought Taurasi as the No. The Hornets moved to New Orleans after the 2001-02 NBA season, but the Sting stayed put. Basically, everything that could go wrong did go wrong for six mostly downbeat seasons. Still, Philadelphia holds lots of appeal. However, in nearly two decades since, a lot has changed as Oregon has become a burgeoning mecca for womens sports supporters. Chicago Bulls: $3.3 billion. 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. After she retired following the 2014 season, the Stars went 23-79 in their last three seasons in Texas before moving to Las Vegas to become the Aces. The city already has used this kind of financing for sports arenas. . Playoff appearances (record): Eight (17-21) Bird said she "felt like crap" that season, but committed to getting in the best shape of her life and staying in Seattle. But they fell to Charlotte in the East semifinals. Thibault is now in his ninth season with Washington, which also traded for Delle Donne before the 2017 season. Today, all but two teams are making a profit. In 2016, the Brooklyn Nets became the first new franchise to enter the league since 1976. The wondrously talented Stinson is the franchise's all-time scoring leader but point guard Staley -- who came to the league in 1999 from the ABL -- became the heart of the team. Other notable stars: Tully Bevilaqua, Jessica Davenport, Katie Douglas, Briann January, Erlana Larkins, Tammy Sutton-Brown, Shavonte Zellous. The WNBA launched with eight NBA-affiliated teams in June 1997. If the WNBA paid out the same revenue split as the NBA (50-50 . "My wish is that ESPN would drive the push for the WNBA instead of waiting," says Lobo. At this point, despite a lot of success as a franchise, the Dream face a lot of questions. Low point: Going 17-51 over their last two seasons and then folding in January 2007 after 10 seasons in Charlotte. The Sun haven't broken through for a title yet, but they're a strong contender to challenge for a championship again this year under coach Curt Miller, despite Alyssa Thomas missing the season with an Achilles injury. How much money do Major League Baseball teams make? With a maximum of 144 roster spots, and with the league carrying closer to 137 players because of salary cap restrictions, spots are at a premium lottery picks have been cut in their first season, beloved veterans whove played years in the league have been quietly waived during training camp and never played another minute. Here is what every team in the NBA is worth in 2021, according to Sportico: 30. Curry remains one of the best players in the game (96), and the team sports a plethora of young, promising players in Jordan Poole (81) and Jonathan Kuminga (79). It was an enormous mistake by the Sting, who missed out on one of the WNBA's all-time greats by not waiting a year for her to recover. As interested investors wait for the WNBAto update them on where the process stands, it has become clear the league is asking two main questions when it considers new owners and cities: Where will the money come from and where will the new team play? Philip Anschutz sold his 27% stake in the Lakers in July at a $5 billion valuation, with an implied controlling stake valuation of around $5.5 billion; Forbes valued the team at $4.6 billion in February. The valuation was calculated using the sales price of all sports teams, which is estimated to be worth $230 million. Other notable stars: Ariel Atkins, Alana Beard, Tina Charles, Natasha Cloud, Chamique Holdsclaw, Ivory Latta, Crystal Langhorne, Emma Meesseman, Murriel Page. MVPs: None Many WNBA stars work in other countries during the WNBA's off-season because doing so is more lucrative than playing in the U.S. Griner is reportedly earning more than $1 million to play for her . They had an engaged fan base that loved the "Bad Girls" style reminiscent of Laimbeer's "Bad Boys" playing days in Detroit, plus the explosive skill of Nolan, who was from nearby Flint, Michigan. The Lynx resembled their parent organization, the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves, in lack of success. The league currently gets an average of $2.66 billion a year from Walt Disneys ABC and ESPN and AT&Ts Turner Broadcasting. Today, the Knicks are one of the most popular teams in New York, if not all of sports their fan base has been called the city's biggest sports "fervor". They've been part of the Phoenix Suns organization since their inception as one of the eight original franchises, first under owner Jerry Colangelo and then Robert Sarver. WNBA team owned by the Mohegan Tribe Crossword Clue Answer. Nine players were named to all four of the WNBA's honorary teams named during milestones in the league's history - the All-Decade Team in 2006; Top 15 Players in 2011; Top 20@20 in 2016, and . MINNEAPOLISAccording to a report by Forbes magazine, the Minnesota Lynx are easily the WNBA's richest franchise, boasting an estimated enterprise value of nearly four dollars. We have all the money here in market in Toronto accessible.. These areas are supported by applying financial metrics such as debt and operating income to each one.. So much has changed to the positive, to the momentum around womens sports. The coronavirus pandemic may have caused NBA owners to take a hit on gate revenues throughout 2020 and into the new season, but NBA franchise values continue to climb nonetheless. This is the perfect time, she said. But Pistons/Shock owner Bill Davidson died in March 2009 and Laimbeer left for an NBA assistant's job shortly after. Expansion has been the hot-button issue of the WNBA through the entirety of Engelberts tenure as commissioner. The top cumulative contracts are four-year deals worth $899,480. 4 min read. WNBA career stats leaders: Courtney Vanderslooot in assists per game (6.7) The average NHL team is worth an estimated $930 million, compared to $3.5 billion in the NFL, $2.3 billion in the NBA and $2.2 billion in MLB. Filling the number 10 spot on the list is the Toronto Raptors. Playoff appearances (record): 15 (41-34) Championships: None The league billed the raise as the biggest ever for a "women's sports property." It includes a roster of A-list investors from the basketball community, as . You just look at the rookies who are doing so great this year. Along with its three titles, Los Angeles has two other trips to the WNBA Finals, falling to Detroit in 2003 and Minnesota in 2017, and has played in every postseason since 2011. Replacing Catchings has been most difficult for Indiana. WNBA started with just eight teams which were fully owned by the NBA. Those new teams could begin to play as early as the 2024 season, she said. Florida grad Jones gets credit as the only player who was with the Rockers start to finish. Excitingly for the league, the average cost of WNBA tickets has an opportunity to rise even further today. Were a very different league when some of those transactions occurred. But the Wings haven't done much yet, losing single-elimination games in their two playoff appearances. High point: The 2012 title gave the future Hall of Famer Catchings a WNBA championship, and her college coach Pat Summitt was in attendance for the clinching victory. Her fandom is not just performative. 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. "I wish we . MVPs: Tina Charles (2012) Tulsa finally had a winning record at 18-16 and made its lone playoff appearance in 2015. The WNBA and its teams are now valued at $1 billion following a historic capital raise of $75 million, a source with knowledge of the investment's impact told Front Office Sports. Additional research by Justin Teitelbaum. Among the new owners is former Dream star Renee Montgomery, who retired to fight for social justice. WNBA career stats leaders: Tamika Catchings in win shares (93.66), defensive win shares (36.52), steals (1,074) and steals per game (2.35) MVPs: Breanna Stewart (2018), Lauren Jackson (2003, 2007, 2010) They went the distance in 2017, too, but this time Minnesota won the decisive fifth game for its fourth title. We'll never know, but Chicago has had a different kind of dynamic duo in guards -- and spouses -- Vandersloot and Quigley. Engelbert named the NHL, NASCAR and MLS as peers in terms of viewership numbers but also as leagues with annual rates five to 15 times higher than the WNBA. Powers, who won a title with the Washington Mystics in 2019, recently signed a new contract to join the Minnesota Lynx. So, if you do the scales, its pretty tough to even fathom that. Local access to one or all of those companies could allow for a more fluid partnership between the businesses and players, potentially leading to endorsement deals that could help increase player pay outside of raising salaries through the collective bargaining agreement. Face of the franchise: Diana Taurasi (2004-present) Force 10 has never wavered in its commitment to the WNBA and the Seattle community. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Dolan put the Liberty on the market in 2017, and Brooklyn Nets owner Joseph Tsai bought them in 2019. It moved to San Antonio after that season. 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. WNBA career stats leaders: Lisa Leslie in defensive rating (88.43) Deanna "Tweety" Nolan helped Detroit win three WNBA championships, and was the WNBA Finals MVP during the team's 2006 title run. Delle Donne missed last season and has been limited to just a few games this season by lingering back issues. Playoff appearances (record): One (1-2) Rookie Wire took a look at the NBA through games played on Sunday and ranked each team from worst to first. For the 2016-17 season, Forbes reported, NBA revenue was $7.4 billion. How Breanna Stewart's move impacts the Liberty, Storm and the WNBA, WNBA free agency and trade tracker: Latest deals and news, Sparks' Talbot to miss season with torn ACL, Source: Griner back with Mercury on 1-year deal, Taurasi, 40, signs multiyear deal with Mercury, ESPN's Rowe, Spears receive Curt Gowdy award, Happy birthdays to MJ: Jordan's not the only one sharing his birthday with big-name stars, Former Iowa, Storm center Edwards dies at 49, Jefferson leaves Lynx, signs contract with Mercury, WNBA's best 25 under 25: Ranking A'ja Wilson, Napheesa Collier and all the young stars, WNBA Power Rankings: Connecticut Sun dethrone Las Vegas Aces, while Minnesota Lynx leapfrog over Seattle Storm. 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. Its amazing to be in the conversation, Beard said. The Mystics, who came into the WNBA with Detroit in the first wave of expansion in 1998, had 12 coaches in their first 15 seasons, changing leadership during a season four different times. Regular-season record: 351-273 Ticket sales account for $50 million, or more than 83 percent of the WNBA's overall revenue. The WNBA has produced an average net loss of $10M per year. Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban ( $4.2 billion) falls just short and Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan ( $1.6 billion) is well outside the top 10. Regular-season record: 37-59 And for the upcoming 2021 season, ESPN has split the difference, dropping to 25 games.