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WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert on sports valuations and player salaries
CNBC Televisionยท 2025-07-11 14:45
Valuation & Revenue Growth - Positive elements are converging to drive up valuations for the W, including patch on uniform, ad spots, and franchise valuation, all driven by revenue and a multiple of revenue [1] - The league experienced hypergrowth after raising capital in February 2022, leading to increased revenue for teams from gate receipts, corporate partnerships, and local media deals [2] - Team valuations have increased from an average of $5 million to $260-270 million over approximately five years [3] Media Deals & Market Dynamics - A significant national media deal, including with NBC, is set to begin next year, further contributing to the multiple and valuation [3] - The league is primarily located in major cities, with Connecticut being one of the smaller markets [4] - Some teams in smaller arenas are looking to upgrade to larger venues to increase revenue and gate attendance [4] Player Compensation - Collective bargaining is currently underway with the players association, with plans to return as much as possible to the players and implement transformational changes by the end of the year [6]