The WNBA has experienced massive popularity growth over the past year, setting records in attendance and ratings as women's basketball continues its upward trajectory.
However, this does not translate to financial success for the league.
The WNBA is still projected to lose around $50 million in the 2024 season. It has never made a profit in its nearly three decades of existence since 1996.
A star-studded rookie class featuring NCAA's all-time leading scorer Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Cameron Brink, and Kamilla Cardoso has significantly contributed to the league's rise in popularity, which has also been reflected in increased merchandise sales.
In response to this growth, the league has committed to charter flights for all its players for the next two seasons, which adds approximately $25 million per year to their financial costs.
The NBA subsidizes the WNBA
The WNBA continues to operate despite nearly three decades of losses, primarily supported by subsidies from the NBA.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver disclosed in 2018 that the league has incurred estimated losses of around $10 million per year since its inception, which means that the NBA has invested a nine-figure sum with no return.
"The truth is, this league would be hard-pressed to exist without the NBA," an anonymous WNBA executive admitted during an interview with The Washington Post.
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