Does the nba own the wnba?
Yes, the National Basketball Association (NBA) has a significant ownership stake in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) , though the ownership structure is somewhat complex and has evolved over time. Here's a breakdown: Initial Ownership: The WNBA was founded by the NBA in 1996 , and initially, the NBA collectively owned all the WNBA teams and the league itself. Shift in 2002: Towards the end of 2002, the NBA began to sell the WNBA teams, either to their NBA counterparts in the same city or to independent third-party owners. This led to some teams relocating or even folding if new owners couldn't be found. Current Ownership Structure: Today, the WNBA's ownership is a three-tiered structure: The NBA itself owns 42% of the WNBA league. The owners of the individual WNBA teams collectively own another 42% of the league. It's important to note that several WNBA franchises are also owned by individuals or groups who own NBA teams (e.g., the Indiana Fever's own…
