Valkyries Make History, Top Sportico's WNBA Valuations List Ahead of Liberty, Fever

It took less than a full season for the Golden State Valkyries to become the most valuable franchise in the WNBA.

Sportico valued the Valkyries at $500 million, making them the first women's sports team to hit that mark. The New York Liberty ($420 million) and Indiana Fever ($335 million) were next on the list:

The Valkyries' ownership group, led by Golden State Warriors team governor Joe Lacob, paid a $50 million expansion fee in 2024, and it didn't take long for that price to look like a massive bargain.

Last November, the organization had already secured 20,000 season-ticket deposits and then sold 10,000 season tickets ahead of its inaugural campaign.

For now, the Valkyries lack a true cornerstone star. Veteran forward Kayla Thornton is their leading scorer at 15.2 points per game.

Playing their home games at Chase Center gives them a big financial edge on the competition, though.

"Last month, the club tipped off its first regular-season game at Chase Center, which set a record for a single-game WNBA ticket revenue at more than $3 million, and the club already has another $3 million gate on its books," Sportico's Kurt Badenhausen wrote. "The Valkyries are selling courtside seats for an average of $1,500 per game, comparable to some NBA teams. Total 2025 revenue should hit $70 million, double what any WNBA club generated last year, and more than half of the teams in MLS."

The WNBA has seen increases in viewership and attendance spanning multiple years, while a new media rights deal will mean a significant boost in league-wide revenue.

According to Badenhausen, the average valuation for a WNBA franchise has climbed 180 percent from 2024 to $269 million. No team improved more than the Fever, whose estimated worth has jumped 273 percent thanks in large part to star Caitlin Clark.

Expansion fees represent the most tangible barometer of the WNBA's robust health.

The cost of bringing a new team to Portland, Oregon, is $125 million, which includes both the expansion fee and the construction of a new practice facility. Badenhausen projects the next WNBA franchise to have a price tag of $250 million from the expansion fee alone.