Sportico: Golden State Valkyries First Women’s Team to Top $100M in Revenue
The Golden State Valkyries generated more than US$100 million in annual revenue during the 2026 WNBA regular season, becoming the first franchise in women’s professional sports history to reach the milestone. Sportico reported the financial figures, noting that the team achieved the record in just its second year of operation following a league-leading US$78 million debut campaign.
Corporate Partnerships and Apparel Deals Drive Revenue Growth
Revenue exceeded expectations due to strong regular season attendance and rapid sponsorship growth. The franchise built a portfolio of more than 40 corporate partners, featuring brands such as JPMorgan Chase, Rakuten, Sephora, and United Airlines. Several sponsors maintain existing ties with the Golden State Warriors, the NBA sister franchise owned by Joe Lacob and Peter Guber. Additional revenue streams arrived through team-specific agreements, including a September deal with Athleta as the official off-court apparel partner and a partnership with AI cloud provider Iren, whose brand links to a broader US$50 million agreement that also covers the Warriors’ jersey patch.
Valkyries Sell Out Home Games and Season Tickets
On-site revenue remained high as the Valkyries sold out all home games across their first two seasons at the 18,064-seat Chase Center. Sportico reported that the team has sold out 47 straight games at the arena. The franchise sold out its allocation of more than 12,000 season tickets for the 2026 campaign, with courtside seats priced at US$1,500 per game. Digital engagement mirrored the physical attendance, as the team surpassed 100,000 followers on TikTok and emerged as the most-followed WNBA club on Threads.
Revenue Surge Increases Franchise Market Valuation
The revenue surge directly elevated the organization’s market valuation. CNBC valued the franchise at US$1 billion earlier in the year, while Sportico estimated the valuation at US$850 million. Both figures represent a substantial increase from the US$50 million expansion fee that Joe Lacob paid in 2023. A deep postseason run could push gross revenue past US$130 million before league deductions from playoff gate receipts.
On-Court Performance and Leadership Strategy
The business milestones coincided with competitive success on the hardwood. The Valkyries finished the regular season with a 32-12 record, capturing the second-best mark in the league and going 17-5 at home. After defeating the Dallas Wings in the opening round, the team took a 2-0 lead over the Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals. Warriors parent company president Brandon Schneider attributed the rapid ascendancy to leadership hires, pointing to team president Jess Smith, general manager Ohemaa Nyanin, and head coach Natalie Nakase.