More than 100 WNBA regular-season games will be shown on TV each year thanks to a new media rights deal announced by the league. The deal, which lasts 11 years and involves Disney, Amazon Prime, and NBC, was confirmed to be worth around $200 million annually by a source familiar with the agreement.
This partnership begins in 2026 and could be reviewed after three years, potentially leading to increased earnings for the WNBA. The deal comes shortly after a similar announcement by the NBA.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert called the deal with Disney, Amazon, and NBCU a significant moment in league history, highlighting the growing value and interest in women’s basketball. She emphasized that these agreements will help the WNBA build a sustainable future, benefiting players, teams, and fans alike.
In addition to broadcasting rights, the partners will also handle production and marketing responsibilities under the deal. Currently, the WNBA’s media rights are valued at about $60 million per year. The NBA, which owns a majority stake in the WNBA, negotiated these new arrangements.
As part of the deal, the partners will nationally distribute over 125 regular-season and playoff games annually. Disney platforms will show 25 regular-season games, NBC will show 50, and Prime Video will show 30.
During the playoffs, Disney will broadcast two first-round series, while NBC and Prime Video will each broadcast one. The semifinals and finals will rotate among the partners throughout the 11-year agreement, with Disney airing eight semifinals and five finals, and Prime Video and NBC each airing seven semifinals and three finals.
“We have had a strong and cooperative partnership with the WNBA since it began in 1997,” said ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro.
“Through our rights, which include the WNBA Finals, we will continue to play a significant role in the league’s impressive growth, while also advancing ESPN’s digital future and serving fans in a unique way.”
The new revenue could significantly raise player salaries, which have been a long-standing issue. Since the league started in 1997, players have played overseas to earn more money.
The highest base salary this year is $242,000, and players can earn over $500,000 through salary, marketing deals, and bonuses. Caitlin Clark, the top pick in the draft, earns $76,000.
The WNBA has had a deal with Amazon Prime since 2021 and is showing 21 games this season on the service.
The WNBA also has broadcast deals with ION and CBS until 2025, and they might be extended, bringing in at least $60 million each year. The ION deal is currently worth $13 million a year.
The league has had impressive ratings in the last two seasons, including 3.4 million viewers for last weekend’s All-Star Game, making it the third most-watched event in the league’s history. It was the 17th WNBA game this season with over 1 million viewers, with Clark playing in 15 of them.
The WNBA will expand to 14 teams in the next two seasons, with the Golden State Valkyries starting next year and a team in Toronto beginning in 2026.
When news of the deal first came out last week, the player’s union worried that the league was being undervalued.
