WNBA Wants More Media Rights Money Ahead Of Caitlin Clark Debut

It's a wild time in the sports media rights landscape, with individual sports leagues looking to increase revenues, and media companies dealing with declining ones.

And a sports league surprisingly believes it has a hot property that deserves more money: the WNBA.

The WNBA and NBA are attempting to put together a joint continuation of their current deal with ABC and ESPN, according to Front Office Sports. The WNBA though, believes it currently has a stronger hand and an undervalued media package. And with the most popular female basketball star, Caitlin Clark, heading to the WNBA next season, the WNBA may have a case. 

Sources told Front Office Sports that the WNBA could look to separate its negotiations from the NBA, if it believes it's not getting the right amount of money and exposure. Existing agreements pay the WNBA around $60 million per year, though the hope is to increase that to anywhere from $80-100 million. Whether that's with the existing television and streaming partners, or elsewhere.

But can Caitlin Clark's debut really generate enough hype to push WNBA media rights up 33 percent to 66 percent?

Guard Caitlin Clark of the Iowa Hawkeyes celebrates after breaking the NCAA women's all-time scoring record during the first half against the Michigan Wolverines at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on February 15 in Iowa City, Iowa.  (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)

By now, the Caitlin Clark Effect is well known. Fan interest in her games has led to gigantic ratings for women's college basketball, sell-out crowds and even a debate over whether or not she was bigger than the men's version of March Madness. 

READ: Is Caitlin Clark Bigger Than The Men's NCAA Tournament? Clay Travis Debates Topic On Social Media

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