The WNBA is continuing to capitalize on the increased interest in the league, spearheaded by the star power of A’ja Wilson, Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, and Angel Reese among others.
Two years after securing its record-setting media deal, the WNBA has actually expanded the deal to the point that it now exceeds $3 billion.
WNBA Expands Media Deal to $3.1 Billion Amid Ever-Growing Interest
The 2026 WNBA season has gotten off to a blistering start, with Clark, Bueckers, and Breanna Stewart among those shining bright in the early-season games. Off the court, the WNBA has taken steps to further expand the record-setting media deal it secured with Disney, NBCUniversal, and Amazon Prime Video.
When the deal was signed in July 2024, it was valued at $2.2 billion over an 11-year period. Fast forward to 2026, and agreements with additional partners have already raised the deal’s value to $3.1 billion.
According to Front Office Sports, this has been made possible due to additional deals with USA Sports (USA Network), Paramount (CBS), and Scripps (Ion Media).
“The WNBA’s media deal now exceeds $3B, a source confirms to FOS. The league has already added $900M to the $2.2B media deal with Disney, Amazon, and NBCUniversal announced in 2024, including adding USA Sports and renewed deals with Scripps and Paramount,” Front Office Sports shared.
The WNBA’s media deal could continue to improve, too, as Front Office Sports notes that “there is also revenue sharing included in the deals that could push the number above $281 million annually” since “the league will receive a portion of advertising and sponsorship revenue from any partner that ‘recoups its financial investment.'”
There is also language that allows for the sides to renegotiate the terms of the contracts, including the length and cost, after the 2028 season.
As part of the current deal, a total of 216 WNBA games will air nationally this season. The 2026 WNBA Playoffs will also be broadcast nationally, with ESPN, Prime Video, NBC/Peacock, and USA Network holding the broadcasting rights.
The 2026 WNBA season started on Friday, and early indications are that the league is set to break more viewership records in the coming months.
The 2026 WNBA Draft averaged 1.50 million viewers, with the Dallas Wings selecting Azzi Fudd as the No. 1 overall pick. It became the second-most-watched WNBA Draft behind only the 2024 edition, when Clark and Reese were drafted. Both players have since become two of the biggest flag-bearers of the WNBA.
The 30th season of the WNBA is also marked by the addition of two new teams, the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo, bringing the league total to 15. This expansion into major new markets could further boost the league’s viewership.
With interest in women’s sports growing rapidly, the WNBA is poised to capitalize. While the media deal is worth $3.1 billion today, it sounds like that number will continue to increase.
