For the second-straight season, the Golden State Valkyries are the WNBA’s most-valuable franchise. Despite launching the franchise in 2025, the Valkyries have topped the league’s most valuable list since their inception, per Sportico.
In their second season, the Valkyries saw their valuation take a big step forward. After leading the WNBA with a valuation of $500 million last year, the team is now valued at $850 million, per Sportico.
Teams all around the league saw a similar jump, as the WNBA continues to experience significant financial growth. The New York Liberty — which sit in second place on the 2026 list — jumped from $420 million to $600 million over the past year. The No. 3 ranked team — the Indiana Fever — saw their valuation increase from $335 million to $560 million. Across the league, franchise valuations are “up 59% from 2025,” per Sportico.
The most curious ranking on the list, however, is the Las Vegas Aces. The franchise led Sportico’s valuations in 2024, but dropped to the fourth-most valuable franchise in 2025 and sit sixth on the list this season.
The Aces have experienced nothing but success since 2024, reaching the semifinals of the playoffs that season and winning another championship last year.
In their first-ever season, the Valkyries surprised fans, winning 23 games and making a surprising playoff appearance. Kayla Thornton and Veronica Burton proved to be tremendous acquisitions, as Thornton made the All-Star team for the first time in her career and Burton won the league’s Most Improved Player award — and received down-ballot MVP votes — for her performance.
Despite their strong first year, the Valkyries fell to the Minnesota Lynx in the first found of the playoffs.
The team will be looking for similar success in 2026. If it can make an even deeper playoff appearance in their second year, the Valkyries could be bound for the top of the most-valuable list once again next season.
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