Warriors Ownership Group Commits $50 Million For WNBA Expansion Team: Report

The Golden State Warriors' ownership group has reportedly committed a record $50 million to bringing a WNBA franchise to the Bay Area, according to Sportico.

Per Sportico, it unclear if the $50 million — which will be paid over ten years — is just the expansion fee or if it includes other money that the new ownership group plans to spend on facilities and/or other infrastructure.

The WNBA announced on Thursday that it approved the Warriors ownership group to lead its first expansion since 2008. The team, which will begin play in 2025, will use the Warriors' training center and play its home games at the Chase Center.

The Warriors ranked first in Forbes' most recent NBA valuations at $7 billion.

"I believe we'll have the No. 1 revenue of any WNBA team," Warriors owner Joe Lacob said in a Thursday press conference. "And I think we can do very, very well as a business because we know how to do this. We have all the facilities, and we can bring sponsor dollars to the team and ultimately to the league that will help the league in a big way."

The WNBA team with the highest team valuation is reportedly the Seattle Storm at $154 million, according to The Athletic.

The $50 million committed by the Warriors ownership group looked somewhat less impressive when, seven minutes before the official press conference began, Phoenix Mercury owner Mat Ishbia announced plans to spend $100 million on a new practice facility for the Mercury. The Storm is currently building a $64 million training center, while the Las Vegas Aces just moved into their new $40 million facility.

The $50 million is also less than what the newest NWSL owners are spending; the ownership group for the Bay Area's NWSL expansion team, which was announced back in April and will begin playing in 2024, committed $125 million, according to Sportico. That included a $53 million expansion fee, in addition to a commitment to spend $40 million on a practice facility.