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. MVPs: None After losing in the first round of the playoffs four out of five years between 1994 and 1999, the Knicks started to become popular again. The top cumulative contracts are four-year deals worth $899,480. Dolan put the Liberty on the market in 2017, and Brooklyn Nets owner Joseph Tsai bought them in 2019. Though that method of valuation is unusual in comparison to how other professional sports leagues conduct their valuations, it also places the average value of a WNBA team at more than $43.75 million. This is below the cost of most NBA games today. Trinity Valley Community College Is the Hoops Dynasty You . Abrahams said the WNBA has given the checkmark to all the infrastructure plans submitted by New Media Sports & Entertainment, including an arena (though, he wouldnt say which Toronto arena). Bonner, Delle Donne and Diggins-Smith all . 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. Toronto Raptors - $2.1 Billion. Today, all but two teams are making a profit. They traded Smith, a future Hall of Famer, to Detroit in late July 2005. Jerry Reinsdorf, Chicago Bulls: $1.5 Billion . MLSE is developing a comprehensive business strategy to explore opportunities for involvement in all womens professional sports, including basketball, and look forward to working with leagues and partners across the industry as part of that process.. She told The Athletic that the value of the WNBA's 12 individual teams plus the league itself is worth over $1 billion. Franchise journey: Of the eight original WNBA franchises, Los Angeles and Phoenix are the two most successful remaining teams, with the Sparks having the most playoff appearances in WNBA history. That history is ancient history, she said. but the NHL's Washington Capitals, two arena football teams, a WNBA team and Capital One Arena. The deal helped spur other WNBA teams to land similar jersey deals while helping drive local revenue. Franchise journey: One of the original eight WNBA franchises, the Monarchs were affiliated with the Sacramento Kings and owned by the Maloof family, which for several years was very involved with the Monarchs. Regular-season record: 383-341 The WNBA has produced an average net loss of $10M per year. That was a rough 4-30 season, but McCoughtry was the No. Franchise journey: They were the "Shock" in name only after leaving Detroit for Tulsa. Face of the franchise: Tamika Catchings (2002-2016) Every team . By years end, a new location will be named and expansion projections will include expansion draft projections as the league prepares to welcome another market, a new team and even more talent. DiscoLives4ever 6 yr. ago. Shortly after losing out on that relocation bid, New Media Sports & Entertainment began putting together another bid this time for an expansion team. Fawknotson remains optimistic about Nashvilles chances for WNBAexpansion. Take, for example, the New York Knicks. Championships: Three (2001, 2002, 2016) The WNBA's average base salary is around $130,000, with the rookie minimum at $60,471 and the veteran minimum at $72,141. In 2016, the Brooklyn Nets became the first new franchise to enter the league since 1976. Force 10 has never wavered in its commitment to the WNBA and the Seattle community. Houston would win just four more playoff games from 2001-2008 before folding after two seasons under owner Hilton Koch, who had bought the team from Alexander. At only 31 years old, she is a five-time WNBA All-Star, a three-time All-WNBA First Team honouree, the WNBA's Most Improved Player, and many other notable accomplishments. When not at the game you will find Austin on Twitter live tweeting his excitement for whatever team hes rooting for. After losing records their first two seasons, the Monarchs picked Griffith No. Other notable stars: Ariel Atkins, Alana Beard, Tina Charles, Natasha Cloud, Chamique Holdsclaw, Ivory Latta, Crystal Langhorne, Emma Meesseman, Murriel Page. MVPs: Maya Moore (2014), Sylvia Fowles (2017) WNBA career stats leaders: Elena Delle Donne in free throw percentage (93.9) and offensive rating (124.85) 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. An unlucky injury for Tennessee star Catchings -- she tore her ACL, which prematurely ended her senior season -- was fortuitous for the Fever. The Nets played their home games at the Barclays Center until they moved into their new arena, called Atlantic Avenue Arena &; Factoring Office Building, in 2019. 1 draft pick in 2009 and led Atlanta to the WNBA Finals in 2010, 2011 and 2013. The Storm are owned by Paul Allen and his company, Index Investment Company. Other notable stars: Swin Cash, Taj McWillliams-Franklin, Plenette Pierson, Ruth Riley, Katie Smith, Kedra Holland-Corn. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Revenue and operating income (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) are for the 2020-21 season and are net of revenue sharing and arena debt service. 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.. Get the list of all the WNBA Teams along with the wins and losses stats and more on Basketball-Reference.com Abrahams declined to specify which franchise, but the Dream were the only franchise available to buy in that window. Low point: An 8-26 final season in San Antonio in 2017, when it was clear the Spurs ownership group had completely lost interest in the Stars. The WNBA has closed on $75 million in funding that values the league and its teams at $1 billion, according to people familiar with the raise. The league announced Friday afternoon that it had approved sale of the franchise. She died at age 37 in 2011 after suffering a cardiac arrest while pregnant with her third child. They got four Hall of Fame players in Cooper, Swoopes, Thompson and Arcain, an experienced, successful coach from the college game in Van Chancellor, committed ownership (at least initially) from the Houston Rockets' Leslie Alexander and an energetic fan base. And its something that weve gotta do in the near future. I strongly suspect they are worth more than any WNBA team. 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. 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. The Ducks peaked at the No. LeBron James' Los Angeles Lakers are now valued at $5.5 billion, joining the New York Knicks . MVPs: None In the CAA Icon survey, residents favored Bridgestone Arena and the Nashville Municipal Auditorium. Other notable stars: Tina Charles, Katie Douglas, Margo Dydek, Jonquel Jones, Asjha Jones, Kara Lawson, Taj McWilliams-Franklin, Renee Montgomery, Nykesha Sales, Jasmine Thomas, Lindsay Whalen, Courtney Williams. High point: Taking the 2019 WNBA Finals to a decisive fifth game before falling to Washington. High point: Avenging a 2016 WNBA Finals loss to the Los Angeles Sparks by winning the 2017 Finals, also against L.A. Get in touch with us now. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Franchise journey: The Fire were owned by the Portland Trail Blazers' Paul Allen, but not for long. We have a process that were following, and were excited to get to the next steps on this, Engelbert said. The lowest of . And if we can do that, were gonna get a great next round of media deals.. Playoff appearances (record): 15 (27-36) The franchise took momentum with them to Texas, having had winning records in 2000, 2001 and 2002 and making the playoffs in their last two seasons in Utah. MVPs: Diana Taurasi (2009) Engelbert said adding two teams would be ideal, but one additional team would still be considered a success. She has done so by bringing in new investors and partners, expanding media partnerships and a $75 million capital raise announced in February. MVPs: Tamika Catchings (2011) WNBA team owned by the Mohegan Tribe Crossword Clue Answer. Bird has been a key factor for all four titles and is a primary icon of the WNBA. The initial plan was to have 12 teams with an average attendance of 5,000 fans per game. Regular-season record: 224-200 After arena debt service . New Orleans Pelicans: $1.35 billion. The most recent sale of a franchise occurred when Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore agreed to a $1.5 billion deal to buy . A big name in men's basketball, he wasn't prepared to run a WNBA team. The remaining 24.2 percent were moderately interested. When asked to rate their interest in a particular sport on a scale of 1 to 5, womens professional soccer was the favorite option while womens professional basketball ranked second. The Miracle's potential wasn't fully realized in four years in Orlando, but it blossomed when the Sun -- led by players like McWilliams-Franklin, Sales and Douglas -- made back-to-back WNBA Finals appearances in 2004 and 2005. Meanwhile, Shock assistant Cheryl Reeve left to take over at Minnesota, starting a dynasty there. When comedian Wanda Sykes guest-hosted Jimmy Kimmel Live last July, Sparks forward Chiney Ogwumike was a guest on the talk show. But forward/center Parker would be the No. She has also played in WCBA and Turkish League. Just as he cited the old American Football League in explaining why he chose to make Becky Hammon the leagues first million-dollar salaried coach, he used it to explain the need for more revenue. (Ray Chavez /The Mercury News via Getty Images), Could Scotiabank Arena be home to a future WNBA team? The best player in franchise history, Australia's Penny Taylor, was there for just three seasons before being taken in the dispersal draft by Phoenix, where she played 10 seasons and won three WNBA titles. High point: Going from worst to first and winning the 2003 championship. Also clouding the leagues expansion plans are the financial positions of current teams. It is just a timing process though. New York made the first championship game (before the Finals became a series) in 1997, and then appeared in the Finals three more times. Regular-season record: 71-113 Before Joe Lacob bought the Golden State Warriors, he was an investor in the American Basketball League, a competitor to the WNBA in the late 1990s. The New York Knicks are also the most valued franchise among the National Basketball Association's 30 franchises (NBA). Other notable stars: Katie Douglas, Shannon Johnson, Elaine Powell, Nykesha Sales. Theres nobody that wants this more than I do. 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. Catchings was a 10-time All-Star and five-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, as iconic to the Fever as Bird and Taurasi have been to Seattle and Phoenix. 1 pick in the 1998 draft, she was a fan favorite in five seasons in Utah and the rest of her career in San Antonio, Connecticut and Los Angeles. In mid-January 2022, CAA Icon presented the Sports Authority Board with a report that found solid interest in the initiative. Playoff appearances (record): Two (0-2) Engelberts primary responsibility through the first three years of her tenure has been to transform the WNBAs economics. The next media rights contract will be vital for the league, not only in bringing in more money to each team but also in lifting up franchise values. How much the team is worth: $1.575 billion. In 2009, the Detroit Shock sold for approximately $5 million, based on legal documents filed by its then-owners. WNBA salary: $170,000. The stars from the final Detroit team in 2009 didn't come to Tulsa; in fact, Deanna Nolan and Cheryl Ford never played in the WNBA again. 1 pick in 2022. High point: Finishing 16-16 in 2000 and making their only playoff appearance. Other notable stars: Jennifer Azzi, Elena Baranova, Marie Ferdinand-Harris, Adrienne Goodson, Wendy Palmer, Natalie Williams. 2 pick and took Kelly Miller. From a 1983 agreement to cap payrolls, NBA Players are guaranteed at least 53% of league revenue. Those numbers also diverge from what some interested investors believe a team is currently worth. Franchise investors are looking past the dearth of fanswhich cut average revenue for the leagues 30 teams by 19% from the 2019-20 season, to $214 millionwith eyes on a big rebound: An increasein sponsorship revenue coupled with fans returning to arenas this season should push the leagues revenue to an all-time high of at least $10 billion,10% above the2018-19 campaign, the last full season before the pandemic. Face of the franchise: Sheri Sam (2000-02) "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 . Other notable stars: Kahleah Copper, Diamond DeShields, Stefanie Dolson, Candice Dupree, Sylvia Fowles, Candace Parker, Cheyenne Parker, Epiphanny Prince, Allie Quigley, Tamera Young. Originally part of the NBA's Seattle SuperSonics organization, the Storm franchise was bought by a Seattle-based, all-women ownership group, Force 10 Hoops, in 2008 to keep the WNBA team in place when the NBA team moved to Oklahoma. Championships: None Regular-season record: 59-145 So Dallas has its fate in its hands, and could move up quite a lot in the next few years. And on senior night, No. (John Russell /, Alana Beard, a former WNBA star, is working to bring a franchise to Oakland. Seven players from five different teams will earn the WNBA supermax salary of $221,450, per Spotrac. MVPs: Nneka Ogwumike (2016), Candace Parker (2008, 2013), Lisa Leslie (2001, 2004, 2006) It is currently estimated that the WNBA generates approximately $60 million in revenue, while $12.3 million of that revenue is distributed to its players. The organization did not respond to a request for comment from Forbes. In order to identify the most viable places for a WNBA expansion team, the league will consider a number of priorities and categories and will run each city through 25 data points within five categories: demographics, psychographics (market research or statistics classifying population groups according to psychological variables), sports benchmarks, viewership and fan data. 2002 Fleer Authentix WNBA brought the concept of serial-numbered Rookie Cards to the league with each getting 2,002 copies. 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 . This makes them the most valuable franchise in all of sports. Engelbert, however, said she does not believe those precedents are in play for franchise valuations going forward. Playoff appearances (record): None According to Forbes, the NBA's total revenue in 2010-11 was $3.96 billion. The Warriors opened the Chase Center in 2019, a self-funded arena in San Franciscos Mission Bay area which could host a WNBA season if they bring in a team. MVPs: None 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.. 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 . It actually wouldnt be thoughtful to be using old data like that. Finally, people are understanding the value of the WNBAand what we offer.. Thats an increase from 2020, when the average team valuation crossed $2 billion for the first time, according to Forbes. Engelberts valuations, and the math to get there, give the WNBAs first public declaration of how much its teams are worth, or perceived to be worth, over the last few years. MVPs: Yolanda Griffith (1999) The WNBAs capital raise, she said, is further indication that now is the time to get involved with the league. At the end of the Dreams first season, the Houston Comets the franchise that won the WNBAs first four championships ceased to exist. All figures are in U.S. dollars based on the average U.S.-Canada exchange rates during the 2020-21 season. Elena Delle Donne - $221,450. Help Accessibility 1,$5.8 billion), the Golden State Warriors (No. Face of the franchise: Lisa Leslie (1997-2009) Record last year: 12-10 (6th out of 12 teams) Team goal: Win the . The brothers also own NHL's Chicago Blackhawks, and before that, had an interest in the Indianapolis Pacers of the NBA. The oldest player is 28-year-old Thornton. Regular-season record: 210-186 That means selling tickets and making it successful. The Seattle Storm were able to turn around their financial situation and start making money. The league called it "the largest-ever capital raise for a women's sports property." . "I wish we . Chicago Bulls: $3.3 billion. 1 pick, and got them to the WNBA Finals for six of the next seven seasons. 1 picks and drafted superstars with all four picks: Jackson (2001), Bird (2002), Loyd (2015) and Stewart (2016). The Lynx resembled their parent organization, the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves, in lack of success. Playoff appearances (record): Eight (17-21) Auriemma doesn't see his team cutting down any nets this season. MVPs: A'ja Wilson (2020) We'll never know, but Chicago has had a different kind of dynamic duo in guards -- and spouses -- Vandersloot and Quigley. The NBA's Most Valuable Teams 2021-22: New York Knicks Lead A Trio Now Worth Over $5 Billion Each. When the league began in 1997, it was not expected to be profitable or even break even. 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. 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. Headquarters for Adidas and Under Armour are in Portland, and Nike is headquartered in Beaverton, Ore., which is just eight miles west of Portland. Meanwhile the average overall WNBA ticket price is $47 on SeatGeek. The average NBA team is worth $1.9 billion, up 13% over last year and three times the level of five years ago. If a team has any excess space on its roster, it can sign players to minimum contracts or trade them away. Low point: Going 14-20 in 2012, their seventh consecutive season missing the playoffs with a losing record since the franchise launched in 2006. Low point: This season is pretty bleak: Hoped-for star Chennedy Carter is indefinitely suspended, the Dream have lost 10 in a row and they're about to miss the playoffs for the fourth time in five years. But they also endured tragedy during that run, when guard Perrot died of cancer during the 1999 season. The Stars then won Game 3 and made their only WNBA Finals appearance. The Chicago Bulls and Brooklyn Nets were next with values of about $1 billion each. Championships: Four (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017) Following the funding, the valuation of the WNBA and its teams . What's the best franchise in WNBA history? WNBA career stats leaders: Lisa Leslie in defensive rating (88.43) Low point: The Liberty losing No. They hosted the first WNBA game in 1997, and were part of the Jerry Buss-owned Los Angeles Lakers organization until 2006. Other notable stars: Rushia Brown, Suzie McConnell Serio, Chasity Melvin, Eva Nemcova, Penny Taylor, Ann Wauters. 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. 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. How much money do Major League Baseball teams make? Earvin "Magic" Johnson - $620 Million. Once again, the franchise is considered the most valuable of any of the NBA's 30 clubs, according to a report from Kurt Badenhausen of Forbes. The value of their franchise is $125 million. One thing the league did want was to make sure the Toronto team was more than majority Canadian owned, and we didnt get some overseas money or anything weird like that, Abrahams said. Ogwumike opened her appearance by calling Sykes a WNBA real one and gifting Sykes an Ogwumike jersey. 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 global financial crisis of 2007-08 took a toll on the WNBA, which lost Charlotte in January 2007, Houston in December 2008 and Sacramento in December 2009. Playoff appearances (record): Six (8-14) If you look at the NFL, were getting $10.1 billion a year for television and the WNBA is getting $30 million a year. Regular-season record: 341-380 Since then, the league's landscape has shifted several times, including to ownership outside the NBA. 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. The Sparks are owned by Hollywood entertainment industry couple Harry and Pamela Manheimer. Listing the top salaries, cap hits, cash, earnings, contracts, and bonuses, for all active WNBA players. Theres no crisp or clear formula, but you see cities that rise to the top pretty quickly, Engelbert said. The average NBA team is now worth $2.86 billion, 15% more than a year ago, an impressive feat considering the stock market is down more than 15% over the same span. 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. Other, smaller pieces of teams where the buyers obtained no path toward control also changed hands at prices above our last edition of NBA valuations. Only tangentially related, but Atltico Bucaramanga is with around $10 million. Plum and Hamby are the key players from San Antonio still with Las Vegas. The Lynx have been in a talent re-stocking process the last few seasons, but still consistently make the playoffs. 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. This would be the first time the league has added an expansion team since the Atlanta Dream were founded in 2008. For example, last month the Brooklyn Nets landed a jersey patch dealreportedlyworth an NBA-record $30 million a year, one reason the value of the Nets rose 21% this yearmore than any other teamto $3.2 billion. It has a rabid basketball fan base, with love for not only the 76ers but five local college teams. In addition to the $12.3 million that the players receive, another $18 million comes from corporate sponsors. Playoff appearances (record): Nine (24-19) Championships: None But Pistons/Shock owner Bill Davidson died in March 2009 and Laimbeer left for an NBA assistant's job shortly after. Franchise journey: If you became a Mystics fan sometime in the last nine years, you missed the roller coaster of ups and downs and carousel of coaches that preceded that. At its largest, the WNBA expanded to 16 teams, but has been at 12 since 2010. But when she has been on the court, it has made all the difference for the Mystics. Now, a Portland entrepreneur is trying to bring a WNBAteam back to the city. Ogunbowale and Mabry, former Notre Dame teammates, have clicked again in the WNBA. 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. 2 in the 1999 WNBA draft, which included many players (like her) who were from the defunct ABL. And were also looking at our current WNBA franchise cities and comparing what lessons weve learned and whats worked and not worked over the last 25 years. Under the current CBA, teams can only fly commercially and players have increasingly voiced frustrations about delays and other travel issues. Championships: None You just look at the rookies who are doing so great this year. The average price of a ticket is just over $100. Other notable stars: Skylar Diggins-Smith, Ivory Latta, Tiffany Jackson-Jones, Glory Johnson, Sheryl Swoopes, Odyssey Sims, Riquna Williams. For the first time, there are three NBAfranchisesworthmore than$5 billion:theNew York Knicks (No. Bevilaqua (with Seattle) and Walker (with Sacramento) both went on to be WNBA champions. During his time in New York, Jordan won two NBA Championships (2000, 2002) and was named MVP of both events. Playoff appearances (record): 12 (30-28) How does marketing in the WNBA stack up against the NBA . MVPs: Breanna Stewart (2018), Lauren Jackson (2003, 2007, 2010) Nike, of course, has serious ties to the league. The franchise, led by its ownership group, considered buying a WNBA team twice in recent years, sources said. Theres no better time to invest in womens sports than now. She was also named one of the WNBA's top 20 players as part of the . Face of the franchise: Angel McCoughtry (2009-2019) After the WNBA allowed teams to sell jersey advertising, the Phoenix Mercury in 2009 became the first franchise to land a deal with LifeLock that put the company logo across the front of the team's jerseys.