The 2025 WNBA team valuations are out, and it certainly looks like the WNBA's leadership and team owners will need to be prepared for serious changes when the league's Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) expires later this year. Surprisingly for a team that's only played 13 games so far this season, the Golden State Valkyries are the league's most valuable team at $500 million, but every single team has seen astronomical growth since the 2024 season, a tool the Women's National Basketball Player's Association (WNBPA) can use to its collective advantage.
2025 WNBA Valuations: inside the continued growth of the league
After the Valkyries, the second most valuable team in the WNBA is defending champions the New York Liberty, who are valued at $420 million. The Liberty are followed by the Fever ($335 million), Aces ($290 million), Storm ($285 million), Mercury ($250 million), Lynx ($240 million), Sparks ($225 million), Sky ($210 million), Mystics ($200 million), Wings ($195 million), Sun ($180 million), and Dream ($165 million).
The Valkyries were introduced to the WNBA after the Golden State Warriors agreed to the league's $50 million expansion fee. The Warriors' ownership group had been vocal about the desire to pair a WNBA team with the $9 billion franchise for quite some time; the Valkyries have proven to be a natural fit with the Bay Area's culture and fan base.
Golden State has since demolished ticket revenue and attendance records and regularly sells out the Chase Center, which can seat 18,064 fans. Sportico reported Tuesday the team is set to make $70 million this season, double what any team in the WNBA made in 2024.
How the latest valuations report can help the players
The players of the WNBA are expected to argue for a salary system that is tied to league revenue, similar to what exists in the NBA. The arrangement only seems fair across the board, especially since the players are ones responsible for growth across the board — revenue, viewership, and attendance.
The WNBPA released a statement Sunday, June 22, that in retrospect appears it could have been timed to be paired with the valuation update. The Fevers Syd Colson referenced that statement ahead of the team's game against the Aces the same day.
"On behalf of me and my teammates and every member of our union, I want to be clear," Colson told reporter Callie Fin. "We remain committed to negotiating the next CBA with the league and the teams in good face and privately. We know that our league is growing and we believe that it's imperative that our CBA reflects the growth that we've experienced in the league and that players should be seen part of those earnings."
The next day the Storm's Skylar Diggins offered an emotional defense of her teammate Nneka Ogwumike, who also leads the WNBPA. "What she does day in and day out is special," Diggins said, "and you shouldn't take it for granted. I love her and it's deeper than basketball — it's who she is as a person."
Diggins added that there is "a lot of stuff she can't say to defend herself" and that Ogwumike takes "a lot of s--t" for "the whole league." Diggins also said she is inspired by Ogwumike personally and professionaly and concluded, "She's a way better woman than me."
The players of the WNBA are making it clear that while they are foes on the floor, they are united when it comes to getting what they deserve.