The Women’s National Basketball Association has long been the target of internet debates. A claim that the WNBA loses $50 million every year recently spread online, often framed as a reason why players should not demand higher pay. The common claim is that a league running at a loss should not be raising player salaries.
A recent Reddit thread in r/IsItBullshit took this viral claim head-on. Fans asked whether the figure was true, whether it had always been the case, and how the league manages to stay alive if it really loses that much. The answers revealed a complex picture. Some users pointed out that the WNBA has never reported a profitable season. Others argued that even if the league loses tens of millions, the NBA treats it as a small expense compared to its $10 billion revenue.
Has the WNBA Ever Been Profitable?
One of the top replies in the thread set the tone. u/1over100yy wrote that the WNBA has “not made a profit in any year they have been in existence. The NBA subsidizes them”. That blunt reality underlines why the claim about yearly losses gained so much traction. Other commenters confirmed this point. u/vinylectric compared the NBA’s support to “a guy making $100k a year and paying $20 for a gym membership he never goes to”. In other words, the losses are real, but they barely matter when placed against the NBA’s massive revenue.
Fans also remembered Adam Silver, NBA commissioner, saying in 2018 that the WNBA lost about $10 million per year on average. Later reports suggested losses of $40 million to $50 million in 2024. But there is no evidence that the league loses exactly $50 million every single year.
Why the NBA Supports the WNBA
The natural question is why the NBA continues to invest. Some critics see it as wasted money. But many Reddit users argued that it is a long-term strategy. u/Qurutin pointed out that women’s sports are growing fast across the world. European women’s football leagues, for example, have broken attendance records in recent years. By backing the WNBA, the NBA positions itself to benefit from this growth. For them, $40 million is pocket change compared to the value of reaching new fans and sponsors.
Another commenter, u/QuirkyFail5440, explained that the WNBA’s existence helps the NBA extend its reach. The two leagues run in different seasons, which keeps fans engaged with basketball for more months of the year. The WNBA also helps the NBA appeal to women and families, a demographic that is crucial for long-term growth. Some saw the WNBA as an investment in culture as much as in basketball. Supporting the league signals that the NBA values diversity and equality, which can pay off in sponsorships and brand reputation.
Future Growth and Media Deals
While debates about yearly losses get attention, many commenters argued that the bigger story is about growth. The WNBA recently signed a reported $2.2 billion TV deal that begins soon. This deal could transform the league’s finances almost overnight. Franchise values also tell a different story. One user noted that team prices jumped from $10 million in 2020 to $325 million for a recent sale. That rise in value helps explain why investors are comfortable taking on losses in the short term.
Several users compared the WNBA’s situation to the early NBA. The NBA itself ran at a loss for decades before becoming profitable in the 1980s. The idea is that leagues take time to grow, and women’s basketball is still in that stage. Others highlighted that even if the league’s books show a loss, it can still benefit the NBA as a whole. The NBA covers those losses because it sees the WNBA as an investment in the future of the sport, a way to expand its audience, and a chance to profit later through media deals and rising franchise values.
