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WNBA May Shut Down After Losing Another $40 Million In 2024?

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The WNBA might shut down after losing another $40 million in 2024. While this obviously goes against the social media narrative that has developed about the league in recent months, the numbers don’t like.

The league’s cheering about packed houses for the Finals between New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx. And that’s great. But behind the scenes, things aren’t all sunshine and rainbows. On top of being a money-loser since its inception, the NBA-subsidized WNBA is set to lose tens of millions more this year.

Yes, folks are jazzed about the games, and players like Caitlin Clark are making waves despite dealing with Jackie Robinson-like levels of racism. But the WNBA’s still in hot water when it comes to money.

Here’s the scoop: The NBA owns almost 60% of the WNBA. When you factor in what some NBA owners have in WNBA teams, it’s more like 75%. That’s why the WNBA’s been able to keep its head above water for so long.

But NBA owners are starting to feel the pinch. They’ve been forking over millions since 1996, and now they’re itching to see some green. One NBA bigwig told The New York Post, “The WNBA owes the NBA so much we won’t see any windfall for years.” Ouch!

Some owners are getting antsy and putting the heat on NBA boss Adam Silver. They want answers about when they’ll start seeing some bang for their buck.

Amazingly enough, losing $40 million in 2024 is actually better than the $50 million the WNBA thought they’d lose. But it’s still a tough pill to swallow. And get this – when new WNBA teams pop up, the NBA owners don’t even get a slice of that pie.

There’s a glimmer of hope on the horizon, though. New TV deals starting in 2026 could bring in a whopping $2.2 billion over 11 years. That’s way more than the $60 million they’re getting now. Sounds great, right?

Maybe.

Based on recent history, the players will want a bigger piece of the action.

Some NBA owners, like New York Knicks’ James Dolan, are pushing for more info on the WNBA’s money matters. They think the league’s playing hide-and-seek with the real numbers. Dolan’s even being called a hero by some owners for speaking up.

It’s not all doom and gloom, though. More people are tuning in to watch the WNBA. Game 2 of the Finals pulled in 1.34 million viewers! That’s peanuts compared to the NBA’s 12 million, but it’s a step in the right direction.

Stars like Sabrina Ionescu and Caitlin Clark are helping put the WNBA on the map. And sold-out games at places like Brooklyn’s Barclays Center show that fans are hungry for some women’s hoops.

But here’s the million-dollar question: Can the WNBA keep its head above water? The league’s popularity is growing, but it’s still drowning in red ink. That $40 million loss in 2024 is no joke, and the NBA can’t keep bailing it out forever.

The new TV deals in 2026 might throw the WNBA a life preserver. But with player salaries on the rise and NBA owners getting restless, it’s anyone’s guess if that’ll be enough to right the ship.

Some owners are already tapping their feet, waiting for answers. If NBA Commissioner Adam Silver can’t pull a rabbit out of his hat soon, the WNBA might be in real trouble.

For now, all eyes are on that 2026 TV deal. Will it be the game-changer the WNBA needs? Or will it be too little, too late? Only time will tell if the WNBA can sink this final shot and stay in the game.

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