The WNBA is no longer just “on the rise”—it has officially arrived at the bank! In a move that is being hailed as a watershed moment for women’s professional sports, the league has officially generated enough profit to trigger its first-ever revenue-sharing payouts.
No one is more excited about this financial slam dunk than NBA legend and Los Angeles Sparks co-owner, Magic Johnson.
A Milestone Decade in the Making
For years, critics and skeptics questioned the financial viability of the WNBA. But the “Caitlin Clark Effect,” combined with record-breaking attendance and a massive new media rights deal, has completely flipped the script. According to recent reports, the league generated enough excess revenue during the 2025 season to hit the long-awaited trigger for player revenue sharing—a feat that has never been accomplished in the league’s 29-year history.
As a result, each of the WNBA’s 13 teams is set to receive a whopping $8 million collective payout to be dispersed among players who were active during the record-setting 2025 campaign.
Magic Johnson Weighs In
Magic Johnson, who became a co-owner of the LA Sparks in 2014, didn’t hold back his excitement. Taking to Instagram to share the news from Revolt Sports, the Lakers icon called the update a win for everyone involved in the game.
“As one of the owners of the LA Sparks, this is great news for the players, owners and the WNBA!” Johnson posted to his followers.
Magic’s reaction highlights a major shift in the “Business of Basketball.” For owners like Johnson and Mark Walter, this payout proves that the WNBA is becoming a high-yield investment. For the players, it represents the first tangible step toward the 50/50 revenue-split model seen in the NBA.
The Road Ahead: A $9.25 Million Bonus?
The good news doesn’t stop at the $8 million payout. This financial surge follows the WNBPA’s announcement that players will also receive a total of $9.25 million from licensing revenue—money generated from jersey sales, trading cards, and video games—by June 1st.
With a March 10th deadline looming for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), this massive injection of cash could be the leverage players need to secure even higher salaries and better benefits moving forward.
