No matter the growing love for the sport, it can’t be denied that any league requires solid financing to stand the test of time. The WNBA has risen to fame in the last few years, and for this season’s explosion, most of the credit goes to Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark. However, it hasn’t translated into the trust owners seek. After all, a $40 million loss is not a small number. 

Amidst all this, the WNBA and its players’ union have until November 1st to decide whether they want to opt out of their current collective bargaining agreement (CBA), reports Front Office Sports Today. In case, the players decide to go for it, they can negotiate for a bigger piece of the “financial pie.”

This indeed looks great on the surface, but it also means more financial strain on an already struggling league. According to the New York Post, the WNBA is estimated to lose $40 million this season, better than the forecasted $50 million loss. But obviously, it’s still a significant red flag. 

Since the league started, the owners have invested a considerable amount, and they are not hopeful about the return even in the long term. While sources say that media revenue will increase up to $2.2 billion over 11 years, starting in 2026, this raises another issue. Along with revenue, players’ salaries will skyrocket, too. 

Moreover, the NBA owns around 60 percent of the WNBA, and it can go up to 75 if we add up personal stakes. So, the NBA does have a big hand in this pie. But they’re not getting back any money either. “We are not even getting any money from WNBA expansion fees,” an NBA team executive said. This has also put a lot of pressure on NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. 

However, NBA spokesman Mike Bass responded, “WNBA financials, including detailed reports on revenue and expenses, are shared with both the NBA and WNBA Board of Governors.” Amidst all this crisis, aren’t there other ways to boost revenue? Well, a few are there, certainly! 

Know what can shape the WNBA’s future

To begin with, a revenue-sharing model can do wonders. In the most simple way, this would give a piece of right and expansion fees to the players. Hence, this deal could make both officials and players feel like they’re winning. 

The second one has to be a tiered salary structure, maybe based on performance and experience. This will keep the league’s financial realities front and center. On top of that, while keeping the hopes for higher salaries, athletes will push through. Again, a win-win situation, I would say.

Now, it’s widely known that WNBA players like Clark, A’ja Wilson, Sabrina Ionescu, and more have sponsors in their bag. So, can’t the WNBA, as a league, see new sponsorships? And its popularity will surely attract some of the big names. To add to it, the league can also focus on community outreach to double up attendance and merchandise sales, ultimately leading to increased WNBA revenue.

While these are some ways that can make a difference, the final decision about the CBA still lies with officials and the athlete union. We’ll have to wait and see what they decide for the thriving future of the league.