The WNBA continues to find itself in heated debate regarding the Enes Kanter debacle. The controversy surrounding the trans athlete debate has continued to rage on in recent weeks with no end in sight.
As the league becomes more and more visible, it’s no surprise that at this point, Kevin O’Leary, a Shark Tank investor, has his opinions about the WNBA in terms of business opportunities. And he presented a positive outlook despite the current drama.
Kevin O’Leary Praises WNBA’s Growth Despite Controversies
Kevin O’Leary, aka Mr. Wonderful, was asked whether he would invest in the WNBA in its current state. His response made it clear that the ongoing controversy has not changed his outlook on the league’s future.
“Yes, the league has done a phenomenal job in acquiring customers, essentially,” O’Leary told News Nation. “They have been masterful at their use of media and social media, particularly.”
He believes the WNBA has successfully turned its growing attention into fan interest, with individual players emerging as major draws. O’Leary pointed out that star players are helping expand the league’s audience.
I’m bullish on the WNBA. The league has done an incredible job building attention through media, social media, and emerging stars who are creating real fan loyalty.
Controversy has only added fuel to that interest, but the bigger story is the growth of the product itself. As… pic.twitter.com/39lHvEpxn2
— Kevin O’Leary aka Mr. Wonderful (@kevinolearytv) August 25, 2026
“The controversy around the players has only added to the fuel of interest,” he said. “The stars are emerging.” And stars like Caitlin Clark, as Colin Cowherd praises her focus on the game rather than on controversy, are leading the league in the right way.
Mr. Wonderful even compared the emergence of WNBA stars to what Michael Jordan did for basketball. Jordan became more than a basketball player during his era and eventually turned his name and image into a global brand.
O’Leary appears to see a similar possibility in the WNBA’s emerging stars. He highlighted the sports collectibles market as one way to track the WNBA’s growing value. “The way you can actually see how this is valued over time is in the sports collectible space,” he said, pointing to signed rookie cards.
He pointed out how auctions give collectors the chance to figure out the investment and product [league]. Investors can actually see what is driving demand for emerging stars.
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“This league is going to do very, very well because it’s great product. It’s great entertainment,” he said.
O’Leary sees the controversy as fuel rather than a threat. The real test for the WNBA may be whether it can turn this moment and the stars at its center into lasting value.
Now, the question arises, will O’Leary’s bet on the league ultimately pay off?
