![The executive director of the WNBA's players' union expressed concerns the league is being undervalued in its .2 billion media rights deal.](https://san.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/WNBA-Featured-Image-Getty.jpg?w=1920)
WNBA union head believes league is worth more than $2.2B broadcast deal
By Jack Aylmer (Reporter/Producer), Zachary Hill (Video Editor), Ali Caldwell (Graphics)
The WNBA is experiencing a historic season, with viewership and attendance reaching unprecedented levels. However, despite this success, the league is projected to lose approximately $50 million in 2024. This financial discrepancy is central to ongoing discussions about the value of the WNBA’s broadcasting rights.
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WNBA players union chief fears $2.2bn media deal undervalues league
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Click to see story on thealbertan.comCurrently, the WNBA operates as a subsidiary of the NBA, receiving about $15 million annually from the men’s league to support its operating costs. As the NBA negotiates a substantial multi-year media deal — valued at $75 billion with NBC, Amazon and Disney — a portion of this agreement could significantly impact the WNBA. The proposed deal includes $2.2 billion for the WNBA over 11 years, equating to roughly $200 million per season.
However, the executive director of the WNBA’s players’ union, Terri Jackson, has expressed concerns about this valuation. She questioned the rationale behind the proposed figure, and voiced concerns that the agreement undervalues the league, particularly given the surge in interest and engagement with the WNBA this year.
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“We look forward to learning how the NBA arrived at a $200 million valuation — if initial reports are accurate or even close,” Jackson said in a statement. “Neither the NBA nor the WNBA can deny that in the last few years, we have seen unprecedented growth across all metrics. The players continue to demonstrate their commitment to building the brand, and the fans keep showing up. There is no excuse to undervalue the WNBA again.”
While the WNBA’s increased viewership and attendance are positive indicators, they have yet to translate into profitability. The anticipated media rights agreement could be a pivotal factor in changing the league’s financial trajectory, potentially allowing for higher player salaries.
This increase in revenue could reduce the need for WNBA players to compete overseas during the offseason to supplement their incomes. This issue also came into focus in 2022 when Brittney Griner was held in Russian detention for almost 10 months while playing for a foreign league.
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The WNBA’s existing broadcasting deal, valued at $60 million per year, is set to expire at the end of the 2025 season. Prior to the start of this record-setting year, the league’s commissioner, Cathy Engelbert, expressed hopes of at least doubling that figure, citing the league’s growth in recent seasons. The new deal being negotiated by the NBA would surpass that goal, more than tripling the WNBA’s annual media rights revenue.
[JACK AYLMER]
AMID A RECORD-SETTING SEASON, WNBA OFFICIALS SAY THE LEAGUE IS WORTH MORE THAN A PROPOSED 200-MILLION DOLLAR ANNUAL BROADCASTING RIGHTS DEAL.
BUT DESPITE THE RATINGS SUCCESS THIS YEAR, THE WNBA IS STILL SET TO LOSE ABOUT 50 MILLION DOLLARS IN 2024.
HERE’S WHAT’S GOING ON.
THE WNBA IS A SUBSIDIARY OF THE NBA-
RECEIVING ABOUT 15 MILLION DOLLARS EVERY YEAR FROM THE MEN’S LEAGUE TO COVER OPERATING COSTS.
RIGHT NOW THE NBA IS IN THE PROCESS OF NEGOTIATING A MULTI YEAR 75 BILLION DOLLAR MEDIA DEAL WITH NBC, AMAZON AND DISNEY-
PART OF WHICH WOULD INCLUDE THE WNBA RECEIVING 2.2 BILLION DOLLARS OVER THE NEXT 11 YEARS.
OR $200 MILLION EVERY SEASON.
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE WNBA’S PLAYER UNION BELIEVES THAT’S NOT ENOUGH THOUGH.
SAYING SHE WONDERED HOW THE NBA ARRIVED AT THIS NUMBER AND THAT THERE IS NO EXCUSE TO UNDERVALUE THEIR LEAGUE.
ESPECIALLY AS INTEREST IN IT HAS NOW REACHED AN ALL-TIME HIGH.
WHILE BOTH WNBA VIEWERSHIP AND ATTENDANCE HIT HISTORIC HEIGHTS THIS YEAR, THAT STILL HASN’T TRANSLATED TO A POSITIVE REVENUE FLOW.
THIS MEDIA RIGHTS AGREEMENT COULD CHANGE THAT-
AND ALSO ALLOW THE LEAGUE TO OFFER ITS PLAYERS HIGHER INDIVIDUAL SALARIES.
THIS COULD POTENTIALLY END THE NEED FOR WNBA PLAYERS TO COMPETE OVERSEAS DURING THE OFFSEASON TO SUPPLEMENT THEIR INCOMES-
BRITTANY GRINER IS A NOTABLE EXAMPLE. AFTER SHE WAS DETAINED FOR NEARLY 10-MONTHS IN RUSSIA WHILE IN THE COUNTRY PLAYING FOR A FOREIGN LEAGUE.
THE WNBA’S CURRENT BROADCASTING AGREEMENT IS VALUED AT 60 MILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR-
SET TO EXPIRE AT THE END OF THE 2025 SEASON.
BEFORE THE START OF THIS YEAR, THE LEAGUE’S COMMISSIONER EXPRESSED HOPE TO AT LEAST DOUBLE THAT FIGURE-
CITING GROWTH OVER THE LAST FEW SEASONS.
THE DEAL THE NBA IS NEGOTIATING WOULD EXCEED THAT GOAL-
MORE THAN TRIPLING THE WNBA’S ANNUAL MEDIA RIGHTS REVENUE.
JACK AYLMER – STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS.
Media Landscape
This story is a Media Miss by the right as only 0% of the coverage is from right leaning media. Learn more about this dataBias Distribution
Left
WNBA players union chief fears $2.2bn media deal undervalues league
Click to see story on The GuardianWNBA players’ union head concerned league is being undervalued in new media deal
Click to see story on The IndependentWNBA players’ union leader is concerned league being undervalued in new media rights deal
Click to see story on Associated Press NewsWNBA players’ union head concerned league is being undervalued in new media deal
Click to see story on abc NewsWNBA players’ union head concerned league is being undervalued in new media deal
Click to see story on The Washington PostWNBA players’ union head concerned league is being undervalued in new media deal
Click to see story on Coast ReporterWNBA players’ union head concerned league is being undervalued in new media deal
Click to see story on Flin Flon ReminderWNBA players’ union head concerned league is being undervalued in new media deal
Click to see story on Star TribuneWNBA players’ union head concerned league is being undervalued in new media deal
Click to see story on Rocky Mountain OutlookWNBA players’ union head concerned league is being undervalued in new media deal
Click to see story on Prince George CitizenWNBA players’ union head concerned league is being undervalued in new media deal
Click to see story on Bowen Island UndercurrentWNBA players’ union head concerned league is being undervalued in new media deal
Click to see story on KIFIWNBA players’ union head concerned league is being undervalued in new media deal
Click to see story on KVIAWNBA players’ union head concerned league is being undervalued in new media deal
Click to see story on Winnipeg Free PressWNBA players’ union head concerned league is being undervalued in new media deal
Click to see story on Washington Top NewsWNBA players’ union head is concerned the league is being undervalued in new media deal
Click to see story on Chicago TribuneWNBA union leader concerned league being undervalued
Click to see story on Helena Independent RecordWNBA players’ union head concerned league is being undervalued in new media deal
Click to see story on Houston ChronicleRight
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WNBA players’ union head concerned league is being undervalued in new media deal
Click to see story on Airdrie City ViewWNBA players’ union head concerned league is being undervalued in new media deal
Click to see story on My Mother LodeWNBA players’ union head concerned league is being undervalued in new media deal – The Morning Sun
Click to see story on Morning SunWNBA players’ union head concerned league is being undervalued in new media deal
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