The WNBA does not typically release exact profit figures from year to year. However, news sources have reported revenue of nearly $50 million and an operating income of roughly $10 million during the 2018 season. The WNBA also recently announced a three-year collective bargaining agreement that allows players to share in league revenue, creating a projected increase to the salary cap of roughly 19% over the term of the agreement.
It's important to note that the amount of revenue and profit the WNBA generates is affected by various factors, such as the amount of money generated from sponsorships, jersey and ticket sales, TV ratings, and digital streaming.
To get an idea of the financial health of the WNBA, it is helpful to compare their revenues and profits with other major sports leagues. When evaluated in comparison to the four major US professional sports leagues (NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL), the WNBA remains an outlier. The NBA, NFL and MLB generate between $8 and $13 billion in revenue each year, whereas the WNBA produces a fraction of that.
In terms of profitability, the WNBA also falls behind its major league counterparts. The four most valuable sports franchises in the world (Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Manchester United, and the NY Yankees) all generate profits of over $100 million per season. By comparison, the WNBA generated an operating income of only $10 million in 2018.
Overall, the WNBA remains financially behind other major sports leagues. Nevertheless, the league has seen steady growth since its inaugural season in 1997 and has plans in place to increase the amount of revenue and profits it generates in the near future.