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Caitlin Clark-effect sees WNBA franchise valuations skyrocket staggering amount

The Golden State Valkyries top the list with a record-setting WNBA valuation as the Caitlin Clark-effect is realized throughout the league.
Matthew Graham|
Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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Indiana FeverGolden State Valkyries

No wonder WNBA stars are speaking out about their ridiculously low salaries.

Not to mention with the league's transcendent pop-culture star, Caitlin Clark, is a huge reason why it's a great time to own a WNBA franchise.

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Caitlin Clark
Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Sportico's Kurt Badenhausen released his latest WNBA valuations. And wow, the valuations have skyrocketed, "up more than 100% over the past 12 months." Let's repeat that. WNBA franchise valuations have more than doubled in just one year.

Leading the charge is the Golden State Valkyries at a record-setting $500 million, which is the bargain of the century given Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob only had to pay a $50 million expansion fee last year to join the W.

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Kaitlyn Chen
Jun 22, 2025: Golden State Valkyries guard Bree Hall and guard Kaitlyn Chen celebrate after defeating the Connecticut Sun. | Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Clark's Indiana Fever, in a small market, is third on the list at $335 million, ahead of marquee teams like the two-time, back-to-back WNBA champions Las Vegas Aces with reigning MVP A'ja Wilson at No. 4 ($290 million), and only last season's winner, the New York Liberty, ahead of the Fever at No. 2 ($420 million).

The Valkyries are killing it with season-ticket sales, already at an amazing 30,000 packages sold for a cool $3 million per game, with courtside seats going for an average of $1,500.

The Clark-effect has seen the biggest jump for any franchise, as the Fever's worth went nuclear by a whopping 273% since last year.

Caitlin Clar
Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images

Even the lowest team on the list, the Atlanta Dream at $165 million, would still have made a new franchise participant at the $50 million threshold three-times their original investment.

The new Portland franchise, including construction, is still a steal at $125 million, and future expansion fees are expected to be $250 million.

Now it's time to pay the players what they deserve.

— Enjoy free dish of rich and fabulous players with The Athlete Lifestyle on SI —

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Matthew Graham
MATTHEW GRAHAM

Matthew Graham has over 20 years of media experience and oversees The Athlete Lifestyle On SI. He has had previous leadership roles at NBC Sports, Yahoo, and USA TODAY, where he co-founded For The Win (named Best Mobile Site by Digiday). He has also written for ESPN, Cosmopolitan, US Weekly, People, E! Online, and FHM, covering major sports and entertainment events like the Oscars, the Golden Globes, NBA Finals, Super Bowl, and winning the Yahoo Superstar Award for coverage of the Olympics.

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