Report: Wings ($208M) are WNBA's most valuable franchise

Field Level Media|published: Mon 12th August, 18:02 2024

Jul 17, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale (24) celebrates with Dallas Wings guard Odyssey Sims (2) after the game against the Indiana Fever at College Park Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

The Dallas Wings, who are tied for last place in the 12-team WNBA this season, are the most valuable franchise in the league at $208 million, Front Office Sports reported Monday.

The value reportedly has surged more than $100 million in the aftermath of two investors recently buying a 1 percent stake in the team at $2.08 million.

Greg Bibb, the Wings' CEO and part-owner, sold the 1 percent stake to businessmen Jed Kaplan and Randy Eisenman.

In June, Sportico valued the Wings at $75 million, the 11th-highest total in the WNBA. The defending champion Las Vegas Aces were the No. 1 team at $140 million.

The Wings are 6-19 this year, tied with the Washington Mystics.

"I would say the value of anything is what the market's willing to pay," Bibb told Sports Business Journal. "I can make a compelling case for why that $208 million number is justifiable."

Kaplan is a minority owner of the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA, and Eisenman founded a local hedge fund.

Their investment reportedly comes amid an off-court surge for the Wings, including a presumptive new TV contract and getting the franchise a $19 million incentive from the city of Dallas to move in 2026 from their current arena -- College Park Center at the University of Texas at Arlington -- to a refurbished Memorial Coliseum in downtown Dallas.

The Coliseum has a seating capacity of 8,500 compared with College Park Center at just over 6,000.

--Field Level Media