The WNBA is expected to lose tens of millions of dollars in 2024, coming as star Indiana Fever player Caitlin Clark was snubbed from a spot on the Women’s Olympic team.
Two people with knowledge of the figures told the Washington Post that the WNBA and its teams are expected to lose around $50 million this year. During the 2018 season, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said that on average, the WNBA has lost "over $10 million every year we’ve operated." The WNBA is in its 28th season.
The WNBA reportedly took in between $180 and $200 million in the 2023 season. A WNBA team executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told the outlet that "The truth is, this league would be hard-pressed to exist without the NBA."
This comes as star player Clark contributed to higher attendance of games she has played at so far this season. According to Sportscasting, teams saw an 87 percent increase in ticket sales when the Indiana Fevers played than the opposing team's home stadium. Her presence at games also accounts for 33.5 percent of the WNBA's total attendance in 2024 so far.
Despite Clark's popularity, she was not chosen to be on the US Women's Olympic Basketball for the Paris Olympics this summer. Clark, in her rookie year with the Fevers, finished her NCAA career as the Division I career scoring leader and is a major fan favorite.
Fans are reportedly part of the reason she wasn't included, with sources saying at the time "that concern over how Clark’s millions of fans would react to what would likely be limited playing time." Clark was the number one draft pick this year, and recently made a WNBA rookie record-tying seven 3-pointers in one game and scored 30 points total.
Britney Griner of the Phoenix Mercury will be on the US team after spending 10 months in a Russian prison on weed charges, and rounding out the team are Breanna Stewart, A'ja Wilson, Napheesa Collier, Jewell Loyd, Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young and first timer Olympic contenders Alyssa Thomas, Sabrina Ionescu and Kahleah Copper.
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