The Golden State Valkyries enter their first offseason as WNBA champions with an established sponsorship business: 62 sponsorship deals, ranking fourth among teams, up from 52 in 2025. That represents 19.2% year-over-year growth during their championship season.

The next question is how that portfolio develops after the title. We used SponsorUnited data to offer a benchmark on five previous championship-to-next-season deal growth. For Golden State and its partners, the opportunity extends from attracting new sponsors to giving existing relationships more ways to reach fans.

Champions’ sponsorship growth outpaced the league on average

Across five championship-to-next-season comparisons spanning 2021–2026, WNBA champions averaged 21.0% year-over-year growth in sponsorship deals, compared with 16.9% for the rest of the league—a 4.1-percentage-point advantage.

For Golden State, that history provides a useful benchmark as the team looks to build on its championship season. While results vary by team and winning the title alone does not guarantee growth, the increased attention creates opportunities to engage prospective sponsors and expand activations with existing partners.

Golden State already ranks among the sponsorship leaders

The Valkyries’ 62 sponsorship deals place them behind Indiana with 85, Phoenix with 77, and New York with 68 in the current team rankings.

Golden State added a net 10 sponsorship deals during 2026, building a substantial partner base before its first post-championship season. That starting point matters when assessing future growth: the same number of additional agreements produces a smaller percentage increase for a team with a larger existing portfolio.

For prospective partners, the fourth-place ranking also adds competitive context. Evaluating an opportunity requires looking beyond the number of sponsors to understand category availability, the rights included and how a brand can establish a distinct role within the team’s commercial program.

The title creates immediate opportunities for partners

While next season’s sponsorship growth remains an open question, the championship has already supplied opportunities for merchandise, celebrations, and partner content.

Official fan gear producer New Era announced its 2026 WNBA Championship Collection on November 1, connecting championship merchandise with its position as the WNBA’s Official Cap. The collection illustrates how an existing relationship can respond quickly to a title.

Golden State’s broadcast relationships offer another platform for activation. Audacy’s description of its exclusive broadcast radio partnership through 95.7 The Game includes a weekly “Built Like a Baller” feature and a J Vineyards performance integration across broadcast and social channels. Those existing formats give partners established ways to participate in the team’s story as attention builds around the championship.

For brands, the planning implication is practical: identify the rights, content formats, and distribution channels that can support major sporting moments before they arrive.

Golden State’s 2027 sponsorship portfolio will provide its first post-title comparison. Until then, the historical 21.0% average growth offers a benchmark, while the team’s 62 sponsorship deals show the scale of the partner business already in place.

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