THE WNBA is reportedly set for a major blow despite seeing record crowds.
Investors are believed to be growing impatient about seeing their returns from the basketball league.
The WNBA is set for a $40million loss on its most recent season[/caption]
The WNBA is mostly owned by the NBA with its stake expected to be nearly 60 per cent.
The NBA teams have invested hundreds of millions of pounds into the sport since 1996.
The New York Post has reported that the WNBA will lose $40million this season.
The amount was forecast to be higher at about $50m but it is still a major loss.
This comes despite the league growing its fanbase with record crowds over the last season.
There has been plenty of interest in the competition with Caitlin Clark winning Rookie of the Year.
She broke multiple records, including having the most assists in a season and the most assists in a single game.
The Indiana Fever star also had a publicised rivalry with Chicago Sky‘s Angel Reese.
Clark was the no.1 draft, while Reese was drafted at no.7 overall.
And investors are not expected to see a return on their expenditure for some time.
WNBA All-Star rosters
THE 2024 WNBA All-Star game rosters have been announced, with Team WNBA set to face Team USA on July 20.
Team WNBA:
- DeWanna Bonner – Connecticut Sun
- Aliyah Boston – Indiana Fever
- Caitlin Clark – Indiana Fever
- Allisha Gray – Atlanta Dream
- Dearica Hamby – Los Angeles Sparks
- Brionna Jones – Connecticut Sun
- Jonquel Jones – New York Liberty
- Kayla McBride – Minnesota Lynx
- Kelsey Mitchell – Indiana Fever
- Arike Ogunbowale – Dallas Wings
- Nneka Ogwumike – Seattle Storm
- Angel Reese – Chicago Sky
Team USA:
- Napheesa Collier – Minnesota Lynx
- Kahleah Copper – Phoenix Mercury
- Chelsea Gray – Las Vegas Aces
- Brittney Griner – Phoenix Mercury
- Sabrina Ionescu – New York Liberty
- Jewell Loyd – Seattle Storm
- Kelsey Plum – Las Vegas Aces
- Breanna Stewart – New York Liberty
- Diana Taurasi – Phoenix Mercury
- Alyssa Thomas – Connecticut Sun
- A’ja Wilson – Las Vegas Aces
- Jackie Young – Las Vegas Aces
A source told the outlet: “The WNBA owes the NBA so much we won’t see any windfall for years.”
The league will get a further $2.2billion over the next 11 years due to the new basketball media contracts.
As a result, the WBNA will get a $100m annual increase from national media contracts, which will see the loss turn into a $60m profit next season.
The league is also set to try and generate more revenue by expanding its regular season and playoff schedules.
However, players are believed to be ready to opt out of the collective bargaining contract by November 1.
This means that player salaries will probably increase and would eat into the 2026 $60m profit.
The report adds that NBA owners are keen for more transparency from Adam Silver, the league’s commissioner.
They want to know when they will see a return from the increasingly popular WBNA.
