The WNBA has announced a groundbreaking 11-year media rights deal with Disney, Amazon Prime, and NBC, which will see more than 100 regular-season games broadcast each season. While the financial terms were not disclosed, it is estimated that the league will receive around $200 million a year. The deal, set to begin in 2026, includes distribution of over 125 regular-season and playoff games annually. The new agreements will also increase production and marketing commitments, with Disney, NBC, and Amazon Prime each responsible for broadcasting a certain number of games. The revenue from the deal could potentially result in higher player salaries, addressing a long-standing issue in the league. The WNBA has seen increasing popularity in recent years, with high viewership numbers and plans to expand to 14 teams. However, concerns have been raised by the player’s union about the valuation of the league in the deal, with questions about how the WNBA’s value was determined compared to the reported $75 billion NBA media rights deal. Overall, the new media rights deal represents a significant milestone for the WNBA and highlights the growing interest in women’s basketball.
Source
Photo credit wtop.com
