The $1 billion bet: The Bay Area is at the cutting edge of a women’s sports boom

May 7, 2026

The Golden State Valkyries, the Bay Area’s WNBA expansion team that debuted in 2025, have reached a landmark $1 billion valuation, making them the first women’s professional sports franchise to hit that mark. This figure, reported by CNBC, tops the league rankings ahead of the New York Liberty at $600 million and Indiana Fever at $560 million, with the average WNBA team now valued at around $460 million.

The team’s rapid rise stems from record-breaking performance in its inaugural season, including $78 million in revenue—the highest in the WNBA—driven by sold-out home games at Chase Center averaging 18,064 fans and total attendance of 397,408. Season tickets for 2026 also sold out with over 12,000 accounts, building on an initial $50 million expansion fee paid by owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber in 2023. On the court, the Valkyries made playoffs as the first expansion team to do so, boosting merchandise, sponsorships, and visibility.

As the 2026 season starts on May 8 against the Seattle Storm, followed by a home opener on May 10 versus the Phoenix Mercury, the Valkyries exemplify the WNBA’s surging growth amid new media deals and fan enthusiasm. SF Standard