Whereas the WNBA’s finest confirmed off their strikes at WNBA All-Star 2024, the league additionally was making a lot of massive over the previous week. Right here’s the most recent on the WNBA’s subsequent media rights offers and different, new prospects and partnerships:
Ought to the WNBA have secured a extra profitable media rights deal?
As a part of the NBA’s latest negotiations for it’s 11-year, roughly $75 billion media rights offers with Disney, NBC and Amazon, the WNBA has secured a brand new nationwide media rights bundle value $2.2 billion throughout 11 years with the three corporations, permitting the league to earn roughly $200 million per 12 months starting with the 2026 season.
The WNBA’s present offers with Disney, Amazon, CBS and ION are value round $50 million yearly and can expire after the 2025 season. The subsequent bundle might be expanded to incorporate extra companions. In line with The Athletic, the league expects to promote two extra rights offers, which may lead to round $60 million extra yearly. The prospect of the league bringing in roughly $260 million in rights charges per 12 months far exceeds WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s said need to double to annual worth of the present deal.
Nevertheless, the WNBPA is, rightfully, not merely glad with the introduced new offers, wanting to make sure that they appropriately and absolutely worth the WNBA. Terri Jackson, Govt Director of the WNBPA, asserted:
Now we have questioned for months how the NBA would worth the WNBA in its media rights deal. With a reportedly $75 billion deal on the desk, the league is in charge of its personal future. Extra exactly, the NBA controls the future of the WNBA. We look ahead to studying how the NBA arrived at a $200 million valuation—if preliminary stories are correct and even shut. Neither the NBA nor the WNBA can deny that in the previous few years, we’ve got seen unprecedented development throughout all metrics, the gamers proceed to show their dedication to constructing the model, and that the followers maintain exhibiting up. There isn’t any excuse to undervalue the WNBA once more.
Assertion from WNBPA Govt Director Terri Jackson on reported new TV deal – $2.2 billion over 11 years (The Athletic first)
“Now we have questioned for months how the NBA would worth the WNBA in its media rights deal. With a reportedly $75 billion deal on the desk, the league is…
— Kareem Copeland (@kareemcopeland) July 17, 2024
At WNBA All-Star 2024, Cheryl Miller, who served as head coach of Group WNBA, was extra blunt together with her dissatisfaction with the deal, insisting, “That’s a lowball.” She continued, “Not sufficient, not even shut,” implying that the worth of the league as an leisure product ought to strategy $8 billion.
Cheryl Miller was requested about reporting in regards to the WNBA’s subsequent nationwide media rights deal at $2.2 billion.
“Not sufficient, not even shut. Two’s good, an eight could be higher… As a result of they know… All it’s a must to do is take a look at faculty basketball and what’s coming subsequent.” pic.twitter.com/TkWDb32fc7
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) July 20, 2024
Engelbert on a 44-game season, growth and extra
At a press convention earlier than Saturday’s WNBA All-Star Recreation, Commissioner Cathy Engelbert declined to elaborate on the main points of the league’s forthcoming media rights offers, merely saying:
I believe we’re going to do one thing historic. I believe as soon as we’re capable of finalize these media offers, all people goes to know that it is a historic time for girls’s sports activities and the WNBA shall be main that … our subsequent spherical of media offers will enable us to proceed to rework this league.
Nevertheless, she did share different details about the course of the league, suggesting that the 2025 WNBA season may function 44 video games, essentially the most allowed beneath the present collective bargaining settlement. Engelbert stated:
We’re trying on the footprint for subsequent 12 months. We don’t have a global competitors just like the FIBA World Cup or the Olympics subsequent 12 months, so we’ll have the ability to take a look at our footprint with none interruption or break, like we’re breaking this 12 months.
Cathy Engelbert says the WNBA is “trying on the footprint subsequent 12 months” with regard to increasing the schedule to 44 video games, which is the utmost allowable beneath the present CBA. She additionally talked about the opportunity of increasing playoffs. (Q: @DougFeinberg) pic.twitter.com/oWHmvNCFcX
— Myles (@MylesEhrlich) July 20, 2024
The league is also increasing its attain by holding exhibition video games in Europe, Asia, Mexico Metropolis and the Center East. Engelbert moreover indicated that the growth draft for the Golden State Valkyries doubtless shall be held in December. She additionally reiterated that the league intends to broaden to 16 groups by 2028.
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert says they’ll announce particulars of growth draft “within the coming months” with “info of how that may work” however more than likely in December.
No different particulars lower than a 12 months earlier than the Valkyries start play. pic.twitter.com/Sphf4zbILs
— marisa ingemi (@Marisa_Ingemi) July 20, 2024
Lakers rent Harding
On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Lakers introduced that Lindsey Harding, the G League Coach of the 12 months with the Stockton Kings, will be part of head coach JJ Redick’s workers. Harding overlapped at Duke with Redick earlier than she grew to become the No. 1 decide within the 2007 WNBA Draft.
ESPN Sources: Lindsey Harding — the G League coach of the 12 months — has agreed on a deal to develop into an assistant with the Los Angeles Lakers. Harding leaves the Kings to rejoin JJ Redick, whom she hung out with on the Sixers workers and as a Duke All-American. pic.twitter.com/O0O0Gom3ic
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 16, 2024
Mercury open apply facility, introduce Diana Taurasi Courts
On Thursday, the Phoenix Mercury formally opened the crew’s glowing new apply facility. Mercury star Kahleah Copper, in attendance for the disclosing of the $100 million facility, shared her first impression with ESPN, saying, “Oh, my jaw drop. Like, [be right back], about to go cry. How on earth did I fall into this? Is that this like, am I dreaming? … Get into simply the main points, it’s loopy. We blessed.”
The grand opening additionally included a ceremony celebrating the 2 apply courts named for franchise legend Diana Taurasi.
WNBA connects with Bumble
Bumble, the women-first courting app, has develop into the WNBA’s first-ever official courting app accomplice, with the objective of making areas for girls to forge significant connections over a shared love of the sport.
The partnership launched on Thursday when Bumble served because the presenting accomplice of the Orange Carpet at WNBA Reside, the place All-Stars just like the Seattle Storm’s Nneka Ogwumike confirmed off their most trendy matches.
WNBA groups with New Stability
On Tuesday, the WNBA and New Stability introduced a multi-year partnership, with the sportswear model turning into an official league advertising accomplice. Now capable of function WNBA logos and branding, New Stability intends to create unique content material round Los Angeles Sparks rookie, and New Stability athlete, Cameron Brink.
OFFICIAL: New Stability has landed a multi-year take care of the WNBA to develop into an official league advertising accomplice.
Deal gives rights to make use of in-uniform imagery and New Stability plans to “create genuine broadcast, digital & retail content material that includes WNBA rookie Cameron Brink.” pic.twitter.com/NWEDbgOZ94
— Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) July 16, 2024
WNBA companions with DraftKings
Wager on ladies. (However on this case, solely you probably have enough monetary safety and reside in a state with authorized sports activities betting.)
Introduced on Thursday, the partnership between the WNBA and DraftKings, now the league’s Official Sports activities Betting and Day by day Fantasy Associate, is a mirrored image of the exponentially rising recognition of ladies’s basketball and sports activities betting. WNBA legend Lisa Leslie, a DraftKings Expertise Ambassador, stated of the collaboration:
Having labored alongside each DraftKings and the WNBA, I’m thrilled to see these modern manufacturers come collectively and additional improve pleasure and visibility round ladies’s sports activities. The WNBA is quickly increasing its attain and DraftKings has an unmatched capability to additional generate extra fan engagement. I’m trying ahead to seeing DraftKings elevate the WNBA’s fan expertise within the midst of this record-breaking season.
