BREAKING: The WNBA Signs Historic Deal, Thanks to Caitlin Clark’s Impact!

Caitlin Clark dribbling against Courtney Williams

Caitlin Clark and Courtney Williams 

The NBA’s board of governors approved the deals this week, signaling a major step forward. However, the agreements aren’t official yet. Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of TNT, claims to have matching rights for one of the packages and has yet to decide whether to exercise them.

According to a report from The Athletic, the WNBA has secured a groundbreaking media rights deal worth approximately $2.2 billion over the next 11 years. This deal involves major partnerships with Disney, NBC, and Amazon.

“The NBA negotiated the WNBA’s new deals during its just-completed rights talks, where it reached an agreement with Disney, NBC, and Amazon on an 11-year, approximately $75 billion set of contracts. The WNBA’s national media rights agreements are with those companies as well; ESPN, NBC, and Amazon will all have their own WNBA packages.”

The NBA’s board of governors approved the deals this week, but they aren’t official yet because Warner Bros. Discovery, TNT’s parent company, claims to have matching rights for a package but has yet to decide whether to use them.

The WNBA Could Make Up To Six Times As Much As What They Make Currently, Thanks To Caitlin Clark

The WNBA’s current media deals, which expire after the 2025 season, are worth around $50 million annually. The new agreements are set to quadruple that, bringing in about $200 million per year. This substantial increase opens the door for the league to potentially earn up to six times its current revenue, especially given Caitlin Clark’s rising influence and the flexibility to attract new partners.

Additionally, two other rights packages are expected to sell for an extra $60 million annually. There is also a provision to revisit the deals in three years, allowing for adjustments if the WNBA’s popularity continues to surge, ensuring the rights remain appropriately valued.

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert previously expressed hopes of doubling the league’s rights fees. It seems those expectations have been far exceeded.