Golden State Valkyries reach billion-dollar franchise milestone in WNBA
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 4, 2026, 9:46 AM
Last updated Aug 4, 2026
The Golden State Valkyries, an expansion team in the WNBA, have been appraised at $1 billion, making them the first women’s professional sports franchise to achieve this valuation. Founded in 2025, the team has quickly established a strong operational model, leveraging a significant market and new collective bargaining agreements that elevated player salaries and experiences. Their success is notable given the WNBA's recent expansion, where new franchise fees have reached $250 million. Golden State's ownership, led by Joe Lacob, aims to sustain this momentum amid competitive growth within the league.
- •Valkyries valued at $1 billion, the first in women's sports history.
- •Team leverages a state-of-the-art practice facility and a large arena.
- •Joe Lacob emphasizes the team's strategy for sustained success.
- •Recent collective bargaining strengthened player benefits in the WNBA.
- 9:46 AMYahoo Sports — Inside the Golden State Valkyries’ billion-dollar success that’s setting a new WNBA bar
"SAN FRANCISCO — In mid-June, Halle Berry had an issue, and that created a conundrum for Gabby Williams. The leading scorer for the Golden State Valkyries worked late on a Monday night. She was set to clock in again the next morning across the bay. But Halle Berry could not be left alone, and addressing this first thing would rob Williams of a couple hours of sleep, which was suboptimal given the demanding nature of her job. So Williams contacted her bosses. She explained her predicament. They of
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