Key Takeaways
- $100M Revenue: First women’s team to cross $100M.
- $1B Valuation: Most valuable women’s sports franchise.
- Fan Power: Sellouts drive commercial growth.
The Golden State Valkyries have surpassed $100 million in annual revenue, becoming the first WNBA and women’s professional sports team to reach the milestone in their second season.
Valkyries Set New Revenue Benchmark
The milestone, reported by Sportico, comes as the Valkyries pursue their first WNBA championship and continue to build one of the fastest-growing businesses in women’s sports. The franchise has sold out all 22 of its regular-season home games in 2026, helping drive its record revenue.
The Valkyries finished the regular season with a 32-12 record, the second-best mark in the league. They then defeated the Dallas Wings in the first round of the playoffs and took a 2-0 lead over the Las Vegas Aces in their best-of-five semifinal series.
A run to the WNBA Finals could push the franchise’s gross revenue above $130 million, according to Sportico. The figure would further widen the gap between the Valkyries and other women’s professional sports franchises.
Strong Fan Demand Drives Commercial Growth
The team’s financial performance reflects strong demand beyond the basketball court. CNBC valued the Valkyries at $1 billion earlier this year, making the franchise the most valuable women’s sports team.
President Jess Smith has attributed the organization’s growth to its focus on understanding and serving its fan base. “What we know about our fan base in women’s sports, and specifically around the Valkyries, is they want us to be really good stewards,” Smith told the San Francisco Standard earlier this year. “They want us to be powerful and unapologetic.”
The franchise generated about $73 million in revenue during its first season, according to Sports Business Journal. Its rapid increase in revenue highlights how quickly a young sports franchise can build commercial value when ticket demand, sponsorships, merchandise, and on-court performance grow together.
Technology Helps Build The Valkyries Brand
The Valkyries have also used technology and data to better understand their audience and develop their brand. Smith previously said the team used data collection and conversations with fans to identify different groups, including existing women’s sports supporters and traditional sports fans entering the WNBA.
“We really feel like we’re just getting started,” Smith said during Sports Business Journal’s Tech Week. She added that the organization was proud of its valuation but wanted the growth of women’s sports franchises to make billion-dollar valuations less unusual.
The business strategy has helped the Valkyries establish an identity separate from the NBA’s Golden State Warriors, who share ownership and play at Chase Center. Sports Business Journal reported that only 8% of the Valkyries’ 12,000 season-ticket holders also held Warriors season tickets.
With the franchise already above $100 million in annual revenue and still competing for its first championship, the Valkyries are showing how strong fan engagement can translate into rapid commercial growth in women’s professional sports.
