League: WNBA Sport: Basketball Country: United States Category: Scores & Results

WNBA surpasses NFL and NBA in financial value-to-revenue metric

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 13, 2026, 11:20 AM

Last updated Aug 13, 2026

WNBA surpasses NFL and NBA in financial value-to-revenue metric

Summary

The WNBA has reported significant growth, overtaking the NFL and NBA in a key financial metric. As of 2026, the WNBA's average value-to-revenue multiple stands at 13.6x, compared to the NBA's 13.5x and the NFL's 12.7x. The league's average franchise value reached $427 million, a substantial increase from $96 million in 2024, attributed largely to the influence of stars like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. Revenue also grew from $13 million to $31.5 million during the same period. Clark's impact on league visibility and marketability is seen as a driving force behind this financial success.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

By the Numbers

•WNBA average franchise value is $427 million in 2026.
•WNBA value-to-revenue multiple leads at 13.6x.
•Average revenue for WNBA franchises is $31.5 million.
•Clark and Reese's arrival in 2024 initiated significant growth.
•WNBA franchises saw a 180.2% increase in value from 2024 to 2025.

Latest Updates

11:20 AMYahoo Sports — WNBA beats NFL and NBA in key financial metric thanks to star players like Caitlin Clark

What they're saying

"
The WNBA has seen an incredible surge in popularity and this is reflected in the financial statistics. The league is ahead of both the NFL and the NBA in one big financial metric.
— Yahoo Sports

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WNBA Basketball