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The WNBA's franchise valuations have surged, with the Valkyries, Liberty, and Fever leading in 2026. The average team is now valued at $427 million, reflecting a 59% increase from the previous year.

WNBA team valuations: Valkyries, Liberty, Fever lead most valuable women's basketball franchises in 2026 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The WNBA keeps adding franchises, and with it, the existing teams are growing in valuation and revenue. This year's list of most valuable franchises has been released by Sportico, with the same familiar name topping the list once again.
After years of the WNBA struggling to turn a profit, the women's basketball revolution over the past few years has created significant opportunities for profit. Because of this, fans have seen three new expansion teams in two years and the sale of a major franchise in 2026. There are also more new franchises in the works.
With the league growing at such a high rate, so are the valuations of each of these teams. The average valuation of a franchise is now at $427 million, which is 59% higher than it was just a year ago.
The WNBA has begun its takeoff and the profits are starting to roll in for many of the owners.
Here is a list of the league's priciest teams as the 2026 WNBA season is soon to be underway.
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The Valkyries, Liberty, and Fever are the most valuable WNBA teams in 2026.
The average valuation of WNBA franchises has increased to $427 million, a 59% rise from the previous year.
The growth in WNBA team valuations is driven by the league's expansion, increased revenue opportunities, and a growing fan base.
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Golden State leads the way again, now with a full season under its belt. The Valkyries made the playoffs in year one, and, when combined with their league-leading ticket sales, allowed them to top the list once again.
While the Valkyries were included last year and remain the most valuable team this year, the same is not true for the franchises making their debut in 2026. The Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire were excluded from this list.
Some of the league's lesser valued teams include the Atlanta Dream, Washington Mystics and recently sold Connecticut Sun, who will move to Houston and rebrand after this season. It is possible that the lower valuation influenced a move in an attempt to garner a larger fan base and additional profits.
| Team | Value |
| Golden State Valkyries | $850 million |
| New York Liberty | $600 million |
| Indiana Fever | $560 million |
| Seattle Storm | $425 million |
| Phoenix Mercury | $420 million |
| Las Vegas Aces | $410 million |
| Los Angeles Sparks | $400 million |
| Minnesota Lynx | $355 million |
| Dallas Wings | $325 million |
| Chicago Sky | $320 million |
| Washington Mystics | $310 million |
| Connecticut Sun | $300 million |
| Atlanta Dream | $280 million |