Delle Donne missed last season and has been limited to just a few games this season by lingering back issues. 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. A representative for billionaire Kirk Brown said he is leading the bid to bring a WNBA team to Portland in this round of expansion. Franchise journey: Detroit was in the first WNBA expansion wave with Washington in 1998, and made the playoffs just once in its first five seasons. By 2003, all but one team was breaking even or losing money. In the last decade, womens college basketball has become one of the most popular sports in the state with Oregon and Oregon State ranking among the top 25 nationally in attendance per game from 2017 to 2020. Playoff appearances (record): 13 (18-30) Low point: Having the distinction of being the only WNBA franchise to never make a playoff appearance. So I think our newest data is our capital raise and the huge, huge commitment we got from that investor group.. With the league celebrating its 25th season, we rank every franchise in each of its incarnations in different cities, all 23 of them. Joe Tsai is a co-founder of China's biggest e-commerce company, Alibaba Group. Engelbert, however, said she does not believe those precedents are in play for franchise valuations going forward. 3,$5.5 billion). He also owns the Rangers baseball team. . Regular-season record: 210-186 The Storm launched soon after the demise of the Seattle Reign of the short-lived ABL, so there was already a professional women's basketball audience in place. PHOENIX - The three-time WNBA Champion Phoenix Mercury today re-signed the face of the franchise and the Greatest of All-Time, Diana Taurasi, to a multi-year contract, the team announced. Based on team websites' listed starting point prices, the average minimum in 2019 was also $17. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. But the Liberty haven't been that far since 2002 and haven't had a winning record since 2017. After reading about how he increased his father's fortune from $750 million to an estimated $6-7 billion, I suppose you wouldn't expect anything less from him. After losing in the 1998 WNBA Finals, the Mercury missed the playoffs seven of the next eight years. It sets its own prices and doesn't have a national television contract so it can increase or decrease its exposure by choosing which games to play and when. Playoff appearances (record): 16 (32-25) Welcome to the Farm! Championships: None The NBA's Most Valuable Teams 2021-22: New York Knicks Lead A Trio Now Worth Over $5 Billion Each. Those four made up the core of the 2004 and 2005 teams that advanced to the WNBA Finals. By the Forbes' 2020 list estimates, five NHL teams are worth at least $1 billion: the Rangers ($1.65B), Maple . Headquarters for Adidas and Under Armour are in Portland, and Nike is headquartered in Beaverton, Ore., which is just eight miles west of Portland. High point: Going 6-0 in the 2000 playoffs, sweeping Sacramento, Los Angeles and New York to win their fourth consecutive title. And the Los Angeles Sparks, Phoenix Mercury, Sacramento Monarchs, and Utah Starzz were in the Western Conference. Face of the franchise: Deanna Nolan (2001-2009) If a team has any excess space on its roster, it can sign players to minimum contracts or trade them away. In addition to the $12.3 million that the players receive, another $18 million comes from corporate sponsors. Once again, the franchise is considered the most valuable of any of the NBA's 30 clubs, according to a report from Kurt Badenhausen of Forbes. Minnesota Timberwolves: $1.43 billion, 15. At his highest, Joe Tsai was worth nearly $15 billion but over the past two years has . In order to break a tie, the following criteria will be utilized in the order set forth: Regular-season record: 59-145 Even though she was 34 when the league started, Cooper was still playing at an elite level after more than a decade of stardom overseas, and was crucial to getting the WNBA off the ground. In the last seven years of the Shock's existence in Detroit, they reached the playoffs each season, got to the WNBA Finals four times and won three titles. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. In 2016, the Brooklyn Nets became the first new franchise to enter the league since 1976. Golden State Warriors. The Warriors' revenue comes primarily from ticket sales ($153 million) and corporate partnerships ($100 million). And twice, the organization has gotten back-to-back No. Face of the franchise: Elena Delle Donne (2017-present) 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. New York made the first championship game (before the Finals became a series) in 1997, and then appeared in the Finals three more times. The Blazers have leases with the city of Portland for both arenas. Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban ( $4.2 billion) falls just short and Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan ( $1.6 billion) is well outside the top 10. Force 10 has never wavered in its commitment to the WNBA and the Seattle community. Regular-season record: 238-287 But there just wasn't a strong commitment from Heat ownership to the Sol. She wanted to get back into the WNBA, but she had a different goal on her whiteboard: team ownership. She's now the franchise's general manager, and with six wins last year and five so far this season, could have the No. The 2022 WNBA Draft is just one day away, but the drama has already started with a blockbuster trade that saw the Washington Mystics send the No . MVPs: None Regular-season record: 241-149 Still, Philadelphia holds lots of appeal. WNBA mock draft: Villanova's Siegrist soars into lottery pick, Serena, Griner honored at NAACP Image Awards, Sparks officially re-sign forward N. Ogwumike, Griner on court in 1st open workout since release, WNBA draft set for N.Y., to have 'Orange Carpet', 2-time All-Star C. Ogwumike back with Sparks, Griner officially rejoins Mercury in 'special signing', Yang joins Sparks after FIBA silver with China, WNBA trade grades: Why Wings, Liberty earn top marks in Saturday's four-team trade. Ticket sales and sponsorships are large revenue drivers. High point: Making the WNBA Finals in 2020 in the team's third season in Las Vegas. 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. People are right now investing in the potential of what it could be. Lacob called owning a WNBA team a dream in 2014. Bird has been a key factor for all four titles and is a primary icon of the WNBA. High point: Defeating Minnesota on the Lynx's home court in Game 5 of the 2016 WNBA Finals for the Sparks' third title, and first in 14 years. Other notable stars: Allisha Gray, Liz Cambage, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Isabelle Harrison, Glory Johnson, Marina Mabrey, Satou Sabally, Kayla Thornton. High point: Reaching the 2013 WNBA Finals -- for the third time in four years -- despite a .500 regular-season record. The Knicks receive most of their revenue from selling tickets ($97 million) and some amount from basketball licensing ($25 million). Face of the franchise: Sue Bird (2002-present) 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. Championships: None The Milwaukee Bucks are the next richest basketball team in the NBA. Franchise journey: Should the Wings really be ranked behind the long-gone Sting and Rockers? During the 2021 season, the Portland Thorns led the NWSL in attendance with more than 14,000 fans per game more than double the next closest team and through the early parts of the 2022 season, the club has averaged more than 13,000 fans per game, second only to expansion team Angel City FC (Los Angeles), which has a population more than six times Portlands. Nashville Municipal Auditorium seats only 8,000, but it currently only hosts home events for the Nashville Roller Girls on a monthly basis so scheduling would be easier than at Bridgestone. Sources say Sykes, who lives in Pennsylvania part-time, is a part of a group with interest in bringing an expansion team to Philadelphia. The Lynx stewed for a year after a heartbreaking one-point loss to the Sparks on Nneka Ogwumike's putback in the 2016 WNBA Finals. Visit ESPN to view 2022 WNBA stat leaders. Playoff appearances (record): Six (6-13) High point: Winning the franchise's fourth title in 2020 during a pandemic-shortened season in an unprecedented "bubble" location in Florida. And this next year, revenue is expected to eclipse $9 billion. In 1998, there were only two teams who were making money: the Houston Comets and the Charlotte Hornets. High point: The 2012 title gave the future Hall of Famer Catchings a WNBA championship, and her college coach Pat Summitt was in attendance for the clinching victory. The New York Liberty, Las Vegas Aces and Atlanta Dream have all been sold in recent years, but the sales prices for all three franchises are in that range. But McCoughtry was injured late in the 2018 season, didn't play in 2019 and left as a free agent for Las Vegas in 2020. One person familiar with running a WNBA team and how its finances work said that breaking even is usually the goal for a franchise. Also in September, the Lakers and the Philadelphia 76ers inked patch deals reportedly worth $20 million and more than$10 million per year, respectively. Regular-season record: 204-251 Portland Trail Blazers: $1.91 billion, https://therookiewire.usatoday.com/gallery/nba-franchise-values-what-every-team-is-worth-in-2021/. How much is the Houston Astros franchise worth? A league source said Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE), the group that owns the Raptors, has done its due diligence to bring an expansion franchise to Toronto. The wondrously talented Stinson is the franchise's all-time scoring leader but point guard Staley -- who came to the league in 1999 from the ABL -- became the heart of the team. Other notable stars: Jewell Loyd, Alysha Clark, Camille Little, Swin Cash, Tanisha Wright, Betty Lennox. The Sparks were originally based in San Francisco but moved to Los Angeles in 2005. You may opt-out by, Traffic cop at the intersection of money and sports. He came back to New York for one final season in 2009 before announcing his retirement. Unlike other professional leagues, like the NFL and NBA, where playoffs are determined by conference or division winners, the WNBAplayoffs are determined by the teams that finish with the top eight records, so adding a single team wouldnt change that much of the equation. Playoff appearances (record): Nine (24-19) The NHLs Predators, the arenas main tenant, have publicly supported the Nashville Sports Councils Women in Sports Initiative, which indicates they would be open to discussing sharing Bridgestone Arena if an ownership group came forward. While the Fire lasted just three seasons, the surge in women's basketball's popularity in the state thanks to the success of the Oregon and Oregon State women's programs in recent years makes Portland a place many think the WNBA should reconsider someday. Among the new owners is former Dream star Renee Montgomery, who retired to fight for social justice. The Bay Area is the second-largest media market in the country in which the WNBA does not have a presence, after Philadelphia. Other notable stars: Kahleah Copper, Diamond DeShields, Stefanie Dolson, Candice Dupree, Sylvia Fowles, Candace Parker, Cheyenne Parker, Epiphanny Prince, Allie Quigley, Tamera Young. 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. Face of the franchise: Alyssa Thomas (2014-present) How does marketing in the WNBA stack up against the NBA . Face of the franchise: Taj McWilliams-Franklin (1999-2002) That revenue from the media contracts would do that.. Regular-season record: 413-340 Los Angeles Lakers: $4.6 billion. 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. The WNBA has whittled its list to 10 to 12 cities, Engelbert said, after it began with 100 possible locations for its new franchises. Championships: None With an ownership group already vetted by the NBA and their own arena, the Warriors loom as a strong option if the league decides to enter the fray to bring an expansion team to the Bay Area. Low point: The Fever are in it now -- their fifth consecutive losing season. Florida grad Jones gets credit as the only player who was with the Rockers start to finish. The Athletic spoke to more than 20 people in and around the WNBA with knowledge of league expansion and its financial picture to learn more about the leagues plans. When the league began in 1997, it was not expected to be profitable or even break even. I strongly suspect they are worth more than any WNBA team. Even if your . High point Young-Malcolm's desperation shot at the buzzer in Game 2 of the 2008 Western Conference finals against Los Angeles keeping San Antonio alive. After losing records their first two seasons, the Monarchs picked Griffith No. Low point: Going 17-51 over their last two seasons and then folding in January 2007 after 10 seasons in Charlotte. AASEG has spent the past year developing a proposal for the league. Nashville has this reputation and has earned it well just looking at Major League Soccer, from moving from the bottom of the list to the top, Fawknotson said, referencing Nashville FC. MVPs: A'ja Wilson (2020) As previously noted, the WNBA generates an average of $60 million in income every year. Engelbert has said the money will go toward investments in marketing and consumer digital products, among other necessary improvements. Since then, the league's landscape has shifted several times, including to ownership outside the NBA. That's when Sparks LA Sports, which included Laker legend Magic Johnson, stepped in to buy the team. LeBron James' Los Angeles Lakers are now valued at $5.5 billion, joining the New York Knicks . Engelbert named the NHL, NASCAR and MLS as peers in terms of viewership numbers but also as leagues with annual rates five to 15 times higher than the WNBA. Its amazing to be in the conversation, Beard said. Two-Way Tie Between Teams. Face of the franchise: Lisa Leslie (1997-2009) It has just never been the right time. Between our citys innate love of basketball, and our ardent support of womens sports, this feels like a natural fit for our community.. These three teams play in the leagues biggest marketsand under normal circumstances generate the most revenue because of their lucrative local television deals and arenas that produce piles of cash from luxury seating and advertising. Playoff appearances (record): 13 (35-33) Regular-season record: 204-306 The stars from the final Detroit team in 2009 didn't come to Tulsa; in fact, Deanna Nolan and Cheryl Ford never played in the WNBA again. By far. Regular-season record: 72-44 MVPs: Diana Taurasi (2009) 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. MVPs: None They officially were the "Silver Stars" from then through 2013, then just the "Stars" their last four seasons. Low point: There hasn't been one, although the Aces were disappointed to be swept by Seattle in the 2020 Finals. Playoff appearances (record): One (0-2) Said Abrahams: They know weve done our financial model, they know whos involved with our group. MVPs: None Other notable stars: Vicky Bullett, Allison Feaster, Rhonda Mapp, Charlotte Smith, Andrea Stinson, Tammy Sutton-Brown. One sports investor said it helped change the leagues position dramatically. Franchise journey: The Sky launched in 2006 and for two seasons had two superstars who were both No. This amounts to a profit margin of 17%. If on the other hand, if it draws high ratings then more money will be made than if they had played it during week one of the season when people were probably still getting used to the idea of women's basketball and didn't know who they were going to watch play. Furthermore, she has played for many prominent teams. Ogwumike opened her appearance by calling Sykes a WNBA real one and gifting Sykes an Ogwumike jersey. However, MLSE wouldnt confirm directly whether its directly involved with the bid put forth by New Media Sports & Entertainment. In 2011, they won the draft lottery, which brought UConn superstar Moore as the No. 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. It moved to San Antonio after that season. Excitingly for the league, the average cost of WNBA tickets has an opportunity to rise even further today. Low point: Losing the 2012 Eastern finals to Indiana, after which coach Mike Thibault was fired and went to Washington. We have the eyeballs locked in. The NBA has revenues of $8.3B/year, while the WNBA only generates $60M (as we said . With the 2021 WNBA season tipping off Friday, we took a look at the league's highest-paid players. The next two seasons, Washington went 11-57. Behind LAFC comes Atlanta United ($845 million) and LA Galaxy ($835 million). Franchise journey: The Mercury seem to have had the most ownership stability of any WNBA franchise. Theprivate equity firmalsobought just under 5%of the Golden State Warriorsat a$5.5 billion valuation in April, thehigh-water markfor a minority stake and 17% above our last estimate. Engelberts primary responsibility through the first three years of her tenure has been to transform the WNBAs economics. Earvin "Magic" Johnson - $620 Million. Though that method of valuation is unusual in comparison to how other . The Ducks peaked at the No. She said the timeline would be determined by whether the city has the arena and can get these contracts done and get season-ticket holders sold and corporate sponsors.. The report estimated the franchise's value at $2 billion, making it the most expensive team in the league. Its the Warriors, one person involved in the process said. 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. It has been nearly 15 years since the WNBA last expanded, adding the Atlanta Dream as its then-14th team before the 2008 season. Along with its three titles, Los Angeles has two other trips to the WNBA Finals, falling to Detroit in 2003 and Minnesota in 2017, and has played in every postseason since 2011. Face of the franchise: Merlakia Jones (1997-2003) Copyright 2020 - 2023 Sportsmanist Inc. Playoff appearances (record): Two (0-2) 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. The incoming WNBA team would be able to play at either the Moda Center, where the Blazers play, or Veterans Coliseum, a 12,000-seat arena next to the Moda Center. Listing the top salaries, cap hits, cash, earnings, contracts, and bonuses, for all active WNBA players. The current salary cap for the NBA is about $75 million US dollars; this limit is set by each team in order to maintain financial stability. 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. By years end, a new location will be named and expansion projections will include expansion draft projections as the league prepares to welcome another market, a new team and even more talent. For picks No. That it came on the University of Minnesota's home court where Whalen played as a collegian (Target Center was being renovated) made it all the more memorable. There were even discussions about having some games played in Europe. Only tangentially related, but Atltico Bucaramanga is with around $10 million. Championships: Four (2004, 2010, 2018, 2020) Low point: Failing to follow up their postseason breakthrough, going 13-19 in 2001. 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. When you think about NBA teams or MLB teams, NFL teams, people paid for what the value is, not necessarily what they are worth in that moment. Also clouding the leagues expansion plans are the financial positions of current teams. The Charlotte Sting, Cleveland Rockers, Houston Comets, and New York Liberty were in the Eastern Conference. The oldest player is 28-year-old Thornton. 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. In the next few months, the most talked about issue in the WNBA should finally have some clarity. A year later, the Sacramento Monarchs which had won a championship just four seasons earlier ceased operations after it failed to secure a relocation bid. Elena Delle Donne - $221,450. Sykes could not be reached for comment. The Nets played their home games at the Barclays Center until they moved into their new arena, called Atlantic Avenue Arena &; Factoring Office Building, in 2019. Basically, everything that could go wrong did go wrong for six mostly downbeat seasons. The highest-paid NBA players, by comparison, make in excess of $40 . We could see the Aces much higher in this kind of ranking a few years from now; they are contenders for the title again this season. They pay for the potential and so the WNBAis becoming a major part of the conversation as we speak.. After Seattle took Australian star Lauren Jackson No. The WNBA has closed on $75 million in funding that values the league and its teams at $1 billion, according to people familiar with the raise. MVPs: None Golden State Warriors: $4.7 billion. He also finished first or second in the MVP voting on eight other occasions. They made the playoffs six times during this often-chaotic period, starting the stretch at 3-27 in 1998 and ending it 5-29 in 2012. One thing the league did want was to make sure the Toronto team was more than majority Canadian owned, and we didnt get some overseas money or anything weird like that, Abrahams said. WNBA career stats leaders: Lisa Leslie in defensive rating (88.43) That was a rough 4-30 season, but McCoughtry was the No. Then majority owner Bill Cameron moved the franchise to Dallas, where the Wing are still seeking their first winning record. The WNBA has one of the more flexible business models in sports. Were definitely looking to significantly enhance the financial performance of many of our teams, but many of our teams are still in big investment mode, she said. 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. Every team . "The way we are right now, this team, as it is right . According to people intimately familiar with these deals who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the implied enterprise value Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez will pay for a controlling interest in the Minnesota Timberwolves is $1.6 billion, with the deal expected to happen in three tranches by the end of 2023. MVPs: None Championships: None MVPs: Tamika Catchings (2011) Championships: Three (2001, 2002, 2016) Championships: None Regular-season record: 37-59 But at only an 83 overall, Thompson is severely underrated in NBA 2K22. A big name in men's basketball, he wasn't prepared to run a WNBA team. The Warriors opened the Chase Center in 2019, a self-funded arena in San Franciscos Mission Bay area which could host a WNBA season if they bring in a team. 2 spot during the 2019-20 season with 10,852 fans per home game. But forward/center Parker would be the No. But after four seasons, Johnson was ready to move on from the WNBA. Memphis Grizzlies: $1.36 billion. Abrahams said that New Media Sports & Entertainment actually needed to get clearance from MLSE in order to begin acquisition negotiations in 2019, which likely means the arena that has been approved by the WNBA is Scotiabank Arena, the Raptors arena which is owned and operated by MLSE. MVPs: None Bird said she "felt like crap" that season, but committed to getting in the best shape of her life and staying in Seattle. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Since the Knicks haven't posted their financial statements online like most other teams, they were given an exemption by Forbes to be able to calculate their value. The WNBAs capital raise, she said, is further indication that now is the time to get involved with the league. Abrahams has been told that the rate will be somewhere between $15-20 million, and he says his team has that capital in hand as well as the capital required for annual operating costs. Three teams the Knicks, Warriors and Lakers are now worth over $5 billion each, according to Sportico, while the average NBA team is valued around $2.4 billion. Abrahams said the WNBA has given the checkmark to all the infrastructure plans submitted by New Media Sports & Entertainment, including an arena (though, he wouldnt say which Toronto arena). But Pistons/Shock owner Bill Davidson died in March 2009 and Laimbeer left for an NBA assistant's job shortly after. Cambage's selection as the face of the franchise is ironic. Alibaba is responsible for around 70% of mail packages in China. Revealing those values is taboo across the league. Other notable stars: Vickie Johnson, Ann Wauters, Sophia Young-Malcolm, Kayla McBride, Jia Perkins, Ruth Riley, Danielle Robinson.