The WNBA Finals provide the highlight of the women’s basketball season in the US, but how has it turned into a big business enterprise? By looking at some of the key aspects of this tournament, we can see how it’s made its mark in different ways.
The WNBA Media Rights
This basketball league’s growth in recent years has been confirmed by the huge media deals it’s been offered. Among the latest highlights, the WNBA signed an 11-year media rights deal with Versant. This will see a minimum of 50 games shown on USA Network, starting next year. It follows the league’s main $200 million annual media deal that was announced last year and that will allow many more sports fans to see games live.
The Playoffs and Finals are a huge part of this deal, since these are the games that most fans want to see each year. Several viewing records were smashed in 2024, with NBA figures showing that it was the most-viewed Finals in a quarter of a decade, following on from the regular season with the biggest viewing figures to date.
More Sponsorship Deals
The WNBA has traditionally lagged behind the NBA in sponsorship deals, but the women’s league is starting to make inroads as more big-money deals are made to promote products and services using the power of these basketball franchises. Interestingly, it’s the rookies who only joined in the 2024 WNBA draft that have proven to be the most effective players in boosting sponsorship deals and increasing corporate engagement with the sport.
Figures compiled by SponsorUnited show that the 12 WNBA teams generated a record amount of revenue from sponsorship deals in 2024, totalling $76 million between them over the full year. This gave an average of $6.3 million for each franchise, coming from an average of 44 deals worth $143,000 each. The Indiana Fever led the way with 92 partnerships with brands, although it was The Phoenix Mercury that claimed the largest amount of revenue from sponsors.
Betting on the WNBA Finals
The increase in popularity of the women’s basketball league is also reflected in the way that it has become an important part of the sports betting market. With online sportsbooks now part of a huge global betting industry, it’s become easier for fans to place their wagers on these games. This online sports betting Canada website includes a WNBA section where the latest odds are listed for upcoming games, alongside other basketball leagues from across the planet.
It’s boiled down to a showdown between the Las Vegas Aces and the Phoenix Mercury this season. While you can bet on the overall winner, there are also many other options for wagering on the outcome of this best-of-seven series. From props on individual player statistics to point spreads and under/over bets, the popularity of this league among betting fans has seen it attract more wagers than ever before, with Las Vegas currently viewed as the favorites to win the title.
Expect to see the WNBA continue to break records and make headlines as more people enjoy watching the games and betting on the outcome.
