Steph Chambers/Getty ImagesThe WNBA and DraftKings officially announced an agreement on Thursday, making the company the Official Sports Betting and Daily Fantasy Partner of the WNBA.
As part of the deal, DraftKings will receive rights to marketing, activation and hospitality opportunities around league events such as the WNBA All-Star Game. The company has also operated as the official sports betting partner of the NBA since 2021.
DraftKings will also receive increased media exposure across the WNBA’s digital and linear media platforms as part of the deal, while the company will utilize official data feeds from the association to support gameplay experiences for fans.
DraftKings president Matt Kalish mentioned the WNBA’s growth when discussing the agreement.
“The WNBA has seen tremendous growth, which continues to be a bright spot in the sports world,” Kalish said, per the announcement. “We are proud to support the league in its efforts to continue expanding the game.”
The association’s popularity has continued to grow in 2024, highlighted by a new rookie class that features standouts such as Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever and Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky.
Clark’s clash with A’ja Wilson and the defending-champion Las Vegas Aces drew a crowd of 20,366 fans at T-Mobile Arena on July 2, marking the highest regular season single-game attendance since 1999.
Bleacher Report @BleacherReportWNBA fans made HISTORY tonight at the Aces-Fever matchup 😱 pic.twitter.com/dxyLcuMVbJ
The WNBA finished the month of May with the highest-attended opening month in 26 years as well as its most-watched start of season across each television network.
WNBA legend and DraftKings talent ambassador Lisa Leslie also brought up the league’s growth as part of Thursday’s announcement.
“The WNBA is rapidly expanding its reach and DraftKings has an unmatched ability to further generate additional fan engagement,” Leslie said. “I am looking forward to seeing DraftKings elevate the WNBA’s fan experience in the midst of this record-breaking season.”
The league also announced a partnership with New Balance on Tuesday.
Source : Bleacher Report