New York Liberty Shatters Records with $450 Million Valuation, Fueling WNBA Expansion and New Facility
The WNBA’s New York Liberty has successfully raised new capital, achieving a landmark $450 million valuation, the highest ever for a professional women’s sports team. This significant financial milestone is earmarked to fund a new, cutting-edge practice facility in Brooklyn and underscores the rapid growth in women’s professional sports.
New York Liberty Achieves Landmark $450 Million Valuation
The New York Liberty, a prominent team in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), has successfully completed a capital raise that values the franchise at an unprecedented $450 million, according to sources familiar with the deal. This valuation marks a new record for a professional women’s sports franchise.
Details of the Record-Breaking Deal
A group of investors participated in the capital infusion, acquiring a stake in the “mid-teens” percentage-wise in the team. While the specific number of investors involved has not been disclosed, the agreement is currently pending approval from the WNBA.
This $450 million valuation significantly surpasses previous benchmarks in women’s sports. For comparison, the Dallas Wings, another WNBA franchise, had a capital raise last summer that valued them at $208 million based on the sale of two half-percent stakes. More recently, entrepreneur Alexis Ohanian’s investment in Chelsea Women valued the soccer team at $326 million for an 8 percent stake.
Funding a State-of-the-Art Practice Facility
A primary driver for this capital raise is the development of a new, dedicated practice facility for the Liberty. In March, the team, which clinched its first WNBA championship in October, announced plans for a 75,000-square-foot training center in Brooklyn’s Greenpoint neighborhood.
Key features of the upcoming facility, projected to open in 2027, include:
- Two full-size practice courts
- Private suites for each player, replacing traditional locker rooms
- A comprehensive recovery suite
- An in-house hair and makeup studio
- A two-story strength training room
The team has stated that this will be the WNBA’s first facility “designed by players, for players,” with an estimated cost of $80 million. Currently, the New York Liberty practices on a side court at their home arena, the Barclays Center.
Ownership and Team Transformation
Clara Wu Tsai and her husband, Joe Tsai, acquired the New York Liberty in January 2019. At the time of purchase from its original owner, James Dolan, Wu Tsai described the team as a “distressed asset.” Dolan had put the team up for sale in November 2017 and subsequently moved its games from Madison Square Garden to Westchester County Center for two seasons.
Since the Tsais took ownership, the franchise has undergone a significant transformation. This includes:
- Relocating the team to Brooklyn.
- Rebuilding the roster with star players like Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, and Jonquel Jones.
- Markedly improving its business performance. By the end of last year, the Liberty boasted over 50 sponsors, a nearly 61% year-over-year increase, with sponsorship revenue climbing by 68%.
- Achieving the second-highest home attendance in the WNBA last season, trailing only the Indiana Fever.
Future Outlook and WNBA Growth
Clara Wu Tsai has expressed ambitious goals, recently telling Bloomberg she envisions the Liberty becoming the “first billion-dollar women’s sports franchise” by the mid-2030s. The WNBA itself is poised for further financial growth, with a new 11-year media rights deal commencing next season, valued at approximately $200 million annually.
The strategy of raising capital to fund new facilities is not unique to the Liberty. In 2023, the Seattle Storm’s ownership sold about 10 percent of their franchise to help finance their $64 million basketball performance center, which opened in April 2024.
The New York Liberty began their 2025 season successfully, defeating the Las Vegas Aces in their opening game on Saturday. Their next game is scheduled against the Chicago Sky on Thursday evening.
Editor’s Note: This article is based on a report from The Athletic, originally titled “WNBA’s New York Liberty have raised capital at a record valuation of $450 million: Sources,” published on May 22, 2025.
