WNBA New Media Rights Deal: Complete broadcasting details, streaming info, contract duration and more

The WNBA's rise in popularity has been rewarded with a new media rights deal with several network and streaming companies. The league has exploded largely due to Caitlin Clark's arrival, along with other members of the 2024 draft. Let's look at the details of the 11-year deal.

According to an official statement by the WNBA, the league renewed its contract with both The Walt Disney Company and Amazon Prime Video. They also reached a deal with NBC Universal, which will also broadcast games starting from the 2026 season.

Disney will televise games on their networks such as ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2, as well as stream them on ESPN's upcoming direct-to-consumer service. Amazon will continue to stream games on Prime Video, while NBC Universal will bring the games on their networks like NBC, USA Network and their streaming service Peacock.

Forbes reported that the 11-year deal is worth $2.2 billion and the league will be paid $200 million per season, which is almost the same revenue they had last season. It will have a big effect on players, especially a potential increase in salaries.

The current deal with Disney and Amazon reportedly pays around $60 million per season. There is a significant increase in the new deal, which will further help the league grow and could finally become profitable.

However, the executive director of the players' union Terri Carmichael Jackson told the Washington Post that the league might be getting undervalued compared to the NBA. The biggest basketball league in the world is set to sign a historic $75 billion deal with Disney, Amazon and Comcast.

"We have wondered for months how the NBA would value the WNBA in its media rights dea. With a reportedly $75 billion deal on the table, the league is in control of its own destiny. More precisely, the NBA controls the destiny of the WNBA," Jackson said.

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WNBA games distribution between NBCU, Amazon and Disney

According to the official statement of the league, Disney will get two first-round playoff series per year, while NBCU and Amazon can telecast one first-round match. The semifinals and finals will be rotated over the duration of the 11-year deal with Disney getting the bulk again with eight semifinals and five finals.

On the other hand, NBCU and Amazon will get seven semifinals series and three finals each in 11 seasons. Disney will also have the rights to the All-Star Weekend and the draft, with Amazon getting the rights to the WNBA Commissioner's Cup Final.

"Partnering with Disney, Amazon and NBCU marks a monumental chapter in WNBA history and clearly demonstrates the significant rise in value and the historic level of interest in women’s basketball. These agreements allow the league to continue to build a long-term and sustainable growth model for the future of women's basketball and sports which will benefit WNBA players, teams and fans," league commissioner Cathy Engelbert said.

A total of 125 regular season and postseason games will be distributed to Disney, NBCU and Amazon. Prime Video will also make their games available around the world for their international subscribers, which is around 200 million.