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The WNBA is trying to cash in big amid the Caitlin Clark hype.
Last month, Clark announced she was entering the WNBA draft before her amazing run during the women’s NCAA tournament.
The college phenom brought in record ratings for the women’s tournament, and the WNBA is hoping to leverage her star power to get a large broadcast deal amid negotiations with networks.
During an interview with CNBC’s Squawk Box, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said the league is looking to earn double its broadcast rights fees. The WNBA reportedly makes $60 million/ year with their current broadcast deal.
Via Awful Announcing
“We hope to at least double our rights fees,” Engelbert said. “Women’s sports rights fees have been undervalued for too long, so we have this enormous opportunity at a time when … the media landscape is changing so much.”
The WNBA is so confident that it’s going to get a big rights deal due to Clark that they’re willing to explore their owns rights deal separately from the NBA.
NEWS: Move over NBA. With @CaitlinClark22 turning pro, the value of @WNBA's media rights are rising.
WNBA believes its current deal is undervalued. If WNBA doesn't get what it thinks its worth during joint negotiations with ESPN, it might seek its own deal, sources tell @FOS.
— Michael McCarthy (@MMcCarthyREV) March 19, 2024