Regular-season record: 422-390 Low point: The franchise folding, despite a committed fan base, after the 2009 season. 2 in 2011 that she didn't want to be there, and her brief presence (53 games) and long absences defined the franchise. The estimated net worth of Mark Davis, an American businessman and owner of a professional sports team, is $1.9 billion. The Dream have struggled mightily these past three seasons; they are 21-60 in that stretch. From 2007-2013, the Sparks were owned first by Gemini Basketball and then Williams Group Holdings, but there was concern in late 2013/early 2014 that the franchise might move when Williams opted out of ownership. Other notable stars: Liz Cambage, Chelsea Gray, Dearica Hamby, Kayla McBride, Angel McCoughtry, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young. Additional research by Justin Teitelbaum. The funding . 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. And its something that weve gotta do in the near future. And if we can do that, were gonna get a great next round of media deals.. Face of the franchise: Seimone Augustus (2006-2019) An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Los Angeles Lakers: $4.6 billion. Engelbert said that number does not account for the full value of the WNBA, only the league itself. Low point: The Liberty losing No. Engelberts primary responsibility through the first three years of her tenure has been to transform the WNBAs economics. "My wish is that ESPN would drive the push for the WNBA instead of waiting," says Lobo. She told The Athletic that the value of the WNBAs 12 individual teams plus the league itself is worth over $1 billion. MVPs: Elena Delle Donne (2015) Regular-season record: 238-287 Adding international commercial travel to league scheduling would only exacerbate the problem. There has been a critical error on this website. The arena is owned by the city, which would allow for necessary upgrades through tax increment financing. The Hornets moved to New Orleans after the 2001-02 NBA season, but the Sting stayed put. First-year Wings coach Vickie Johnson has a lot to work with, but it's also a tough league in which to be this young. Playoff appearances (record): 20 (47-43) The league knows everything about what this is going to look like (regarding) Toronto.. 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. In 2003, the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority paid $10 million as an expansion fee for the Connecticut Sun, according to an SEC filing. The Finals have been played at the conclusion of the regular season and postseason bracket every year since the league's inception in 1997; the championship stage follows a 2-2-1 split format, giving the higher-seeded team a chance to host three games as opposed to just two. Like Engelbert, Davis the Aces owner is fixated on revenue as his top priority. Low point: Failing to follow up their postseason breakthrough, going 13-19 in 2001. The WNBA was founded with only eight teams. The three highest earners in the WNBA, including Diana Taurasi of the Phoenix Mercury, each received an average of 228.09 thousand U.S. dollars for their . Low point: There are so many options. But there was always a fascination league-wide with Dydek, the tallest woman to play in the WNBA at 7-foot-2. Via ESPN. LeBron James' Los Angeles Lakers are now valued at $5.5 billion, joining the New York Knicks and the Golden State Warriors in the $5 billion club. Theres nobody that wants this more than I do. The lowest of . The Aces are on their second owner in Sin City as Las Vegas Raiders boss Mark Davis bought the team from MGM Resorts International earlier this year. A representative for billionaire Kirk Brown said he is leading the bid to bring a WNBA team to Portland in this round of expansion. Very successful.. Other notable stars: Kahleah Copper, Diamond DeShields, Stefanie Dolson, Candice Dupree, Sylvia Fowles, Candace Parker, Cheyenne Parker, Epiphanny Prince, Allie Quigley, Tamera Young. Low point: An 8-26 record in 2003 under the Mercury's third coach in three years. Engelbert would not disclose the number of teams projected as profitable for the 2022 season. Today, all but two teams are making a profit. Low point: Becoming the first of the original eight WNBA teams to fold, after the 2003 season. This allows more people from different economic backgrounds to attend basketball games. Nashville and the state of Tennessee just has such a strong history and support of womens basketball.. 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. We use revenue multiples to calculate our team values (equity plus net debt) based on the economics of each teams current arena deal. Data provided by HighPostHoops.com 2028 2027 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 But it hasn't always been a 12 team league. Franchise journey: The Utah Starzz were an original WNBA franchise in 1997, but the Utah Jazz were not a very engaged owner and the team moved to San Antonio to become part of the Spurs organization in 2003. Low point: The sale of the franchise to Tulsa, which was a re-set with new ownership, new staff and none of the stars from Detroit. Today, a jersey deal is a one of . 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. If you look at the NFL, were getting $10.1 billion a year for television and the WNBA is getting $30 million a year. 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. Currently, CAA Icon is putting together its WNBA-specific report that it hopes to present to the league this month. The Golden State Warriors and the New York Knicks produced the most income in the NBA, with 474 million US dollars and 421 million US dollars, respectively. Boston Celtics: $3.2 . Joe Tsai is a co-founder of China's biggest e-commerce company, Alibaba Group. 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. Regular-season record: 204-306 The league called it "the largest-ever capital raise for a women's sports property." . Here is what every team in the NBA is worth in 2021, according to Sportico: Nick Monroe/Handout Photo via USA TODAY Sports, Carmen Mandato/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports, Sign up for the The Rookie Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. Looming over this process, however, is the value of a WNBA franchise. 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. High point: Despite going 15-19 in the 2014 regular season, the Sky got hot at the right time, beating Atlanta and Indiana to reach the WNBA Finals. The Lynx went 13-21, their last losing season. High point: Defeating Connecticut 3-1 for the championship in the league's first best-of-five WNBA Finals series in 2005. Best players: Diamond DeShields, Candace Parker, Allie Quigley, Courtney Vandersloot. The Stars then won Game 3 and made their only WNBA Finals appearance. Get the list of all the WNBA Teams along with the wins and losses stats and more on Basketball-Reference.com In the next few months, the most talked about issue in the WNBA should finally have some clarity. Delle Donne, wanting to be closer to her Delaware home, pushed for a trade to Washington after the 2016 season and has won a title with the Mystics. Over that span, the league has made changes to sustain the WNBA as both a sports league and a profession for womens basketball players. Other notable stars: Vickie Johnson, Ann Wauters, Sophia Young-Malcolm, Kayla McBride, Jia Perkins, Ruth Riley, Danielle Robinson. 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. The NBA, however, turns a profit of roughly $2.1B per year, which is what allows them to payout 50% of the league revenue to players. The Warriors' revenue comes primarily from ticket sales ($153 million) and corporate partnerships ($100 million). 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". We know that its time because theres such great talent coming out of the NCAA ranks into our league. We'll never know, but Chicago has had a different kind of dynamic duo in guards -- and spouses -- Vandersloot and Quigley. Face of the franchise: Elena Delle Donne (2017-present) Playoff appearances (record): Four (6-9) Low point: The Fever are in it now -- their fifth consecutive losing season. Were going to try to change the narrative and change the actual quantitative valuation model, Engelbert said. It has just never been the right time. Nike, of course, has serious ties to the league. So that's one year, unprotected, at the . 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. The Lynx have been in a talent re-stocking process the last few seasons, but still consistently make the playoffs. 7. For the first time, there are three NBAfranchisesworthmore than$5 billion:theNew York Knicks (No. If a team has a new arena, media deal or sponsorship agreement set to open or kick in after the 2020-21 season, we estimate its impact on the enterprise value. Through expansion the WNBA is trying to reset the market for how much its franchises are worth. We have been actively exploring this for a long time, Lacob told the San Francisco Chronicle last year. Championships: None Though Oakland is the 45th-biggest American city by population, its larger than two current WNBAmarkets (Minneapolis and Uncasville, Conn.), and the Bay Area comprising San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose is the nations sixth-largest media market. What you need to know about the Chicago Sky. Franchise journey: The Aces are this low only because they're in just their fourth season in Las Vegas. But forward/center Parker would be the No. Championships: None The team was owned by Russian billionaire Sergey Brin and Chinese investor Joe Tsai, who started out as employees of Google's China office. Headquarters for Adidas and Under Armour are in Portland, and Nike is headquartered in Beaverton, Ore., which is just eight miles west of Portland. We really want to set up new owners for success., Engelbert estimates an 18- to 24-month timeline from the identification of a new team to its inaugural season. Low point: The franchise folding after going 15-17 in 2002. Franchise journey: Madison Square Garden was a pretty special place with a likable and successful Liberty team in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Bridgestone Arena could be a location for a WNBA expansion team. Low point: There hasn't been one, although the Aces were disappointed to be swept by Seattle in the 2020 Finals. 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. 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.. but the NHL's Washington Capitals, two arena football teams, a WNBA team and Capital One Arena. Getting a media contract was definitely one of the first things that is on my plate in my vision for this league to succeed, said Davis, who also owns the Raiders. He is known for being one of the founders of Microsoft and also owns the Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA. The recent capital raise was heralded by Engelbert as a boon. Regular-season record: 60-68 MVPs: Maya Moore (2014), Sylvia Fowles (2017) Earvin "Magic" Johnson - $620 Million. 28. Mike Alter - $1.2 Billion. Between our citys innate love of basketball, and our ardent support of womens sports, this feels like a natural fit for our community.. Jerry Reinsdorf, Chicago Bulls: $1.5 Billion . Value: $1.58 Billion. Those new teams could begin to play as early as the 2024 season, she said. Franchise journey: They made four playoff appearances in their seven seasons, but the Rockers were gone before they really had a chance to make an impact. 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. The fact that we were capable of raising $75 million at the league level validates sort of the trajectory of the WNBA, she said. The WNBAs capital raise, she said, is further indication that now is the time to get involved with the league. It may come as a surprise to learn that the two highest profile owners in the sport don't make the cut. Lacob called owning a WNBA team a dream in 2014. Toronto Raptors - $2.1 Billion. The Knicks receive most of their revenue from selling tickets ($97 million) and some amount from basketball licensing ($25 million). (Click here for our full list of values and additional information on every team.). Brown made his fortune co-founding DiscoverOrg, a company now called ZoomInfo that he later left. Chicago Bulls: $3.3 billion. She wanted to get back into the WNBA, but she had a different goal on her whiteboard: team ownership. At the end of the Dreams first season, the Houston Comets the franchise that won the WNBAs first four championships ceased to exist. 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. The Wings had the top two picks in this year's admittedly weak draft. The next two seasons, Washington went 11-57. Those numbers also diverge from what some interested investors believe a team is currently worth. WNBA started with just eight teams which were fully owned by the NBA. They've also had one of the most involved fan bases in the X Factor, which fell in love with the likes of Jennifer Gillom, Bridget Pettis and Australia's Michele Timms in the early years. Face of the franchise: Deanna Nolan (2001-2009) 10. That union provided the Sky with their best record (24-10) in 2013 when Delle Donne was Rookie of the Year, and the next season the Sky reached the WNBA Finals, where they were swept by Phoenix. In 2011, they won the draft lottery, which brought UConn superstar Moore as the No. 1. Franchise journey: The Fire were owned by the Portland Trail Blazers' Paul Allen, but not for long. She has also played in WCBA and Turkish League. After two seasons playing in White Plains, New York, and last year in the bubble in Bradenton, Florida, the Liberty are now at Barclays Center full time. It has been nearly 15 years since the WNBA last expanded, adding the Atlanta Dream as its then-14th team before the 2008 season. The Yankees and Knicks have the same owner: James Dolan. It averaged 75,000 viewers per regular season game in 2017, according to Nielsen, but that more than doubled to 162,000 viewers per nationally televised game last season. But going 3-31 in 2011 in Cambage's rookie season was pretty hellish. Former baseball star Alex Rodriguez and businessman Marc Lore are in the process of buying the Timberwolves/Lynx. Try a week on us. One person familiar with running a WNBA team and how its finances work said that breaking even is usually the goal for a franchise. Explained How The NBA Owns WNBA Teams And Who Are The New Team Owners. . 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. With the "face of the franchise" category, we list the years she was with that team, which is not necessarily how long she was (or still is) in the WNBA. Championships: One (2005) From there it's a fair drop off to Seattle Sounders on $705 million and New York City on $655 million. In 2011, 22 of the 30 teams were losing money, and the average operating income per team sat at $6 million. The WNBA's average base salary is around $130,000, with the rookie minimum at $60,471 and the veteran minimum at $72,141. From a 1983 agreement to cap payrolls, NBA Players are guaranteed at least 53% of league revenue. By 2003, all but one team was breaking even or losing money. Replacing Catchings has been most difficult for Indiana. Championships: None Face of the franchise: Diana Taurasi (2004-present) According to Forbes, the NBA's total revenue in 2010-11 was $3.96 billion. MLS averaged 277,000 viewers for its 2021 regular season games and 1.14 million viewers for its single, winner-take-all championship game. The NBA has revenues of $8.3B/year, while the WNBA only generates $60M (as we said . So, if you do the scales, its pretty tough to even fathom that. Continue with Recommended Cookies. We had to build a (Warriors) team and business organization. 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. High point: The Mystics and Delle Donne overcoming her back injury and a tough Connecticut team to win the 2019 WNBA Finals. The NBA has gained undeniable traction over the last decade, at least from a financial standpoint. The New York Knicks are also the most valued franchise among the National Basketball Association's 30 franchises (NBA). 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. Others who had been with the 2009 Shock but did go to Tulsa -- such as Plenette Pierson, Shavonte Zellous and Kara Braxton -- were traded during that first season by coach/general manager Nolan Richardson. 1 pick in 2022. Franchise journey: The Starzz, owned by the Utah Jazz, never caught on in Salt Lake City. 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. Only tangentially related, but Atltico Bucaramanga is with around $10 million. The ABL didnt last very long just two seasons but it was the first sign of Lacobs interest in putting his money behind a womens basketball league. Such feats have undoubtedly increased her value and as such, she is now one of the highest-paid in the WNBA. This recent history of the NBA's salary cap tells us again that Cuban's story isn't quite right. Face of the franchise: Yolanda Griffith But the next year brought Taurasi as the No. Revealing those values is taboo across the league. Other notable stars: Alana Beard, Tamecka Dixon, Chelsea Gray, Mwadi Mabika, DeLisha Milton-Jones, Kristi Toliver. For example, a citys population, political affiliation and policies, and generational demographics will be factors, Engelbert said, as the league knows it already skews to young and female fans. These areas are supported by applying financial metrics such as debt and operating income to each one.. Championships: None New York has had many great players come through its doors, but no single player has brought more joy to Knicks' fans than Michael Jordan. 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. As the WNBA looks to grow, Lacob and the Warriors are interested in bringing a team to San Francisco, whether thats an expansion team or even an existing one. Franchise journey: An original WNBA franchise, the Sting were first owned by the Charlotte Hornets and made the playoffs six of their first seven seasons. Regular-season record: 48-48 If and when we do it, which we are interested in doing, we want to do it right. The Liberty lost Game 3 and the series, but "The Shot" lives on. After all, Dallas is a contemporary team and has a lot of young talent, led by scoring sensation Ogunbowale. Get Forbes daily top headlines delivered straight to your inboxfor news on the worlds most important entrepreneurs and superstars, expert career advice and success secrets. High point: Finishing 16-16 in 2000 and making their only playoff appearance. Then Connecticut fired Thibault after the 2012 season, and the Mystics finally had a long-term coach. Face of the franchise: Taj McWilliams-Franklin (1999-2002) Other notable stars: Ariel Atkins, Alana Beard, Tina Charles, Natasha Cloud, Chamique Holdsclaw, Ivory Latta, Crystal Langhorne, Emma Meesseman, Murriel Page. Playoff appearances (record): Two (0-2) All figures are in U.S. dollars based on the average U.S.-Canada exchange rates during the 2020-21 season. They are well-positioned to bring a team to San Francisco if they decide to make a full-throttle pitch. Low point: Star center Leslie missing the 2007 season on pregnancy leave. Regular-season record: 241-149 The Sun missed the playoffs for the next four seasons. A clear choice as the WNBA's best point guard, Vandersloot earned back-to-back All-WNBA First Team nods on the strength of her record-setting assist rates. 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. Portland Trail Blazers: $1.91 billion, https://therookiewire.usatoday.com/gallery/nba-franchise-values-what-every-team-is-worth-in-2021/. 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. The presentation will show that Nashville has the infrastructure to support a team. It is an attempt to not only suss out which cities have a chance to become a future WNBA outpost, but also to understand how much a franchise is worth in a league where team values are hard to ascertain. Franchise journey: After the 2002 season the WNBA was ready for independent ownership outside of NBA franchises, and the Sun were the first to go that route. 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. She tried for years to make a comeback but was beset with injuries and ended up playing just 53 games total. When the Shock started 0-10 in 2002, former Detroit Pistons star Bill Laimbeer came in as head coach, which began a massive turnaround. Franchise journey: The Dream are the last expansion franchise to join the WNBA, in 2008. Face of the franchise: A'ja Wilson (2018-present) They sometimes have to pay to appear on local TV, essentially debiting that outlay as a marketing spend just to air its games in its local market. 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. WNBA career stats leaders: Lisa Leslie in defensive rating (88.43) 2 in the 1999 WNBA draft, which included many players (like her) who were from the defunct ABL. 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. Three original franchises are still in the same place in 2021: the Los Angeles Sparks, the New York Liberty and the Phoenix Mercury, although the Liberty are now in Brooklyn instead of Manhattan. Forbes calculated the Knicks' value by applying an industry standard valuation method called "net asset value" or "NAV." Memphis Grizzlies: $1.36 billion. The No. The Rose City attempted to house a WNBAfranchise for three seasons from 2000-2002, but it failed. New Orleans Pelicans: $1.35 billion. Low point: Having the distinction of being the only WNBA franchise to never make a playoff appearance. The base salary for WNBA rookies varies on when (or if) players were selected in the WNBA Draft. The city already has used this kind of financing for sports arenas. UConn has appeared in the last 14 Final Four's, but that streak could be in jeopardy. Face of the franchise: Dawn Staley (1999-2005) DiscoLives4ever 6 yr. ago. Two years later, Michael Alter reportedly paid $10 million for an expansion team in Chicago. Face of the franchise: Becky Hammon (2007-2014) Thibault is now in his ninth season with Washington, which also traded for Delle Donne before the 2017 season. Face of the franchise: Liz Cambage (2011-13) WNBA career stats leaders: Margo Dydek in blocks (877) and block percentage (8.99); Jennifer Azzi in 3-point field goal percentage (45.8) Face of the franchise: Margo Dydek (1998-2002) 2002 Fleer Authentix WNBA brought the concept of serial-numbered Rookie Cards to the league with each getting 2,002 copies. While the average highest listed price is $233. Heres a look at the six markets that seem the most prepared and probable to be on the short list for WNBAexpansion: During the fall of 2019, the Nashville Sports Authority board commissioned CAA Icon a consulting firm that works with venue owners and operations, professional sports franchises and sports leagues to conduct market research on the viability of and interest in a professional womens sports team in the city. She has broken the WNBA mark for assists . He came back to New York for one final season in 2009 before announcing his retirement. High point: Avenging a 2016 WNBA Finals loss to the Los Angeles Sparks by winning the 2017 Finals, also against L.A. That has elicited demands from players for more roster space across the league. Franchise journey: The Sky launched in 2006 and for two seasons had two superstars who were both No. While WNBA statistics have yet to be revealed, a number of those teams are said to have been supported by NBA ownership. There was definite fan interest and a good relationship between the Spurs and Stars. The WNBA is presently anticipated to earn $60 million in income, with $12.3 million of that money given to its players. Owned by the Cleveland Cavaliers, their last season was the summer that LeBron James was the No. Transactions occur in a black box, unlike most other professional leagues, in which teams are sold and their prices are eventually leaked or announced.