2025 WNBA Thread

[GB Warrior]

I don't mean this in a negative way because she's awesome, but does anyone else think Caitlin Clark doesn't really impact winning at the professional level yet? She's a really good player. She's going to be an all time great. I'm sure she'll win titles. But when I watch her at this point I think I see a lot of Trae Young.

No. She changes the way the women's game is played. The Fever succeeded without her, yes, but their entire gameplan and roster construction strategy changes with her starring. 

[Jay Bee]

Need Sophie to come to Minnesota

[cheebs09]

Need Sophie to come to Minnesota

Will that impact your ability to legally be in the arena?

[Uncle Rico]

Will that impact your ability to legally be in the arena?

He'd have to trim his beard

[MU82]

In 2021, Raiders owner Mark Davis expanded his Vegas sports empire by purchasing the Aces for $2 million. Four years and three championships later, Yahoo Sports says the franchise is worth $310 million, an increase of 15,400%.

Other franchises have seen a similar meteoric rise in value over the last 5 years.

One of many factors to explain why the WNBA players association isn't gonna accept cries of poverty from the owners during these collective bargaining negotiations.

[WhiteTrash]

In 2021, Raiders owner Mark Davis expanded his Vegas sports empire by purchasing the Aces for $2 million. Four years and three championships later, Yahoo Sports says the franchise is worth $310 million, an increase of 15,400%.

Other franchises have seen a similar meteoric rise in value over the last 5 years.

One of many factors to explain why the WNBA players association isn't gonna accept cries of poverty from the owners during these collective bargaining negotiations.

I don't really follow the WNBA, so forgive me if this is common knowledge, but it has been reported that the NBA has bankrolled the WBA for about 25 years, so does the WNBA have a massive debt due to the NBA?

[MU82]

I don't really follow the WNBA, so forgive me if this is common knowledge, but it has been reported that the NBA has bankrolled the WBA for about 25 years, so does the WNBA have a massive debt due to the NBA?

From a Google AI search:

No, the WNBA does not currently owe the NBA money in the sense of a formal debt; rather, the NBA serves as a financial backer and owner of the WNBA, providing capital and covering operational losses to keep the league afloat and help it grow, as the WNBA remains unprofitable. The NBA owns a significant stake in the WNBA, which functions like a subsidiary, and has been investing millions into it since its inception.

Bottom line: Rich NBA owners invested in the WNBA as a way to grow interest in basketball overall, with the idea that the investment eventually would pay dividends. With what's taken place the last couple of years, starting with the enormous interest in Caitlin Clark joining the league, "eventually" has arrived for the WNBA. Sold-out arenas around the league, huge TV contract, major boost in merchandise revenue, etc ... and they are still paying next to nothing for talent, without whom there is no league.

[WhiteTrash]

From a Google AI search:

No, the WNBA does not currently owe the NBA money in the sense of a formal debt; rather, the NBA serves as a financial backer and owner of the WNBA, providing capital and covering operational losses to keep the league afloat and help it grow, as the WNBA remains unprofitable. The NBA owns a significant stake in the WNBA, which functions like a subsidiary, and has been investing millions into it since its inception.

Bottom line: Rich NBA owners invested in the WNBA as a way to grow interest in basketball overall, with the idea that the investment eventually would pay dividends. With what's taken place the last couple of years, starting with the enormous interest in Caitlin Clark joining the league, "eventually" has arrived for the WNBA. Sold-out arenas around the league, huge TV contract, major boost in merchandise revenue, etc ... and they are still paying next to nothing for talent, without whom there is no league.

So how long has the NBA/WNBA been paying players "next to nothing" relative to the profitability of the WNBA?

[Jay Bee]

Bottom line: Rich NBA owners invested in the WNBA as a way to grow interest in basketball overall, with the idea that the investment eventually would pay dividends.

That's a "bottom line" you dreamt. The Righteous know reality.

[MU82]

That's a "bottom line" you dreamt. The Righteous know reality.

Please show proof what I said was incorrect. Thanks!

I'll provide this, for starters:

https://sports.yahoo.com/wnba/article/theyre-absolutely-underpaid-economists-weigh-in-on-wnba-labor-showdown-151146341.html

[Jay Bee]

Please show proof what I said was incorrect. Thanks!

I'll provide this, for starters:

https://sports.yahoo.com/wnba/article/theyre-absolutely-underpaid-economists-weigh-in-on-wnba-labor-showdown-151146341.html

Oh, to be naive.

[Uncle Rico]

Oh, to be naive.

😂

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

In WNBA logic, I've read there are two buyers at $325mil, the Boston bid and the Marc Lasry Hartford bid.  The WNBA says both are relocation (Hartford is not) and they did not apply for expansion teams so they have to get behind expansion bidders.  The league will buy the team at $250 mil (the current expansion fee) so they can sell to the Houston offer. 

[MU82]

Oh, to be naive.

Thanks for your valuable contribution to the discussion.