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There are few investments that are as failproof as owning a professional sports team, especially with the way that franchise values seem to be skyrocketing these days.
But while you may think that the best investment to make is in the NFL, which is by far the most popular sports league in the country, or the NBA, which is the fastest-growing league in the country, you’re actually better off looking in a different direction.
As it turns out, no sports franchises are growing in value quite as quickly as those in the WNBA, which more than explains why players were so steadfast in recent labor negotiations, and why ESPN is pivoting from Sunday Night Baseball to Women’s Sports Sundays instead.
WNBA Franchise Values Have Taken Off In Recent Years
Kurt Badenhausen of Sportico published an article revealing that the current average value of a WNBA franchise is $427 million. That alone is impressive, but it becomes even more impressive when you realize that it represents a 59 percent growth compared to the same number just one year ago.
Oh, and franchise values are up a jaw-dropping 345 percent from where they stood in 2024.
New @Sportico WNBA team values.
▪️@valkyries #1 for the 2nd straight year
▪️Avg value: $427 million, up 59% vs last year
▪️Avg up 345% from 2024
▪️Total 2025 revenue: $410 million
▪️Atlanta Dream at $280 million are the cutoff. ATL value is up 409% in 2 years.Full list:… pic.twitter.com/tBSoKyKAsj
— Kurt Badenhausen (@kbadenhausen) May 1, 2026
The valuations did not include the Toronto Tempo or the Portland Fire, each of which is set to begin its inaugural season in the league in 2026. But for the second straight year, the Golden State Valkyries, who entered the league in 2025, were named the league’s most valuable franchise.
The Valkyries have an estimated worth of $850 million, dwarfing the second most valuable franchise, the New York Liberty, which came in at $600 million.
Interestingly enough, the reigning WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces, who have won three of the last four league championships and feature superstar A’ja Wilson, come in just sixth on the list at $410 million.
That’s behind the Valkyries, Liberty, the Indiana Fever, Seattle Storm, and Phoenix Mercury.
The Atlanta Dream checked in at the bottom of the list with an estimated franchise value of $280 million.