Prediction markets could be adding another major sports league to their growing list of potential partners. The WNBA has confirmed it is evaluating opportunities in the industry, opening the door to possible agreements with platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket.
The development comes just days after the NBA announced partnerships with the two prediction market operators. While the WNBA was not automatically included in those agreements, the league appears interested in exploring what a separate relationship could look like.
No timetable for a decision exists, and it remains unclear which platforms could ultimately secure agreements.
NBA Partnerships Could Open the Door for WNBA
The NBA's recent agreements with Kalshi and Polymarket provide a potential blueprint for how a WNBA partnership could develop.
Under the NBA agreements, both companies received preferred partner status, allowing them to use league intellectual property across their platforms and promotional campaigns. They will also receive official NBA data through Sportradar, the league's designated data distribution partner.
DraftKings is also expanding its existing relationship with the NBA to incorporate prediction markets and nationwide promotional opportunities.
However, the WNBA will need to negotiate its own agreements. Although the NBA owns 42% of the women's league and both organizations operate from the same New York headquarters, they do not automatically share commercial partnerships.
Kalshi has reportedly expressed interest in working with the WNBA, although neither side has confirmed whether formal discussions have taken place.
Player Concerns Remain a Major Consideration
While the financial opportunities could be attractive, prediction market partnerships also come with potential challenges for the WNBA.
Player safety and game integrity have become increasingly important as sports betting and prediction markets continue to expand. Several WNBA players have spoken publicly about receiving threatening and abusive messages from people identifying themselves as sports bettors.
Las Vegas Aces star Chelsea Gray brought attention to the issue in July after sharing a racist message she received from a fan whose social media biography referenced sports betting. Other established players, including Dearica Hamby, Courtney Williams, and Natasha Cloud, have also discussed receiving threats connected to betting-related frustrations.
Those experiences could make player involvement particularly important as the league evaluates potential agreements.
WNBA Players Association executive director Terri Carmichael Jackson emphasized that the players' union should have a meaningful role in any discussions before the league moves forward.
The Trade Handle Prediction Markets Take
The WNBA's interest comes during a period of significant growth for the prediction market industry.
Kalshi and Polymarket have continued pursuing partnerships with major sports organizations, giving their platforms greater exposure and access to official league intellectual property. The NHL, MLB, and MLS have also entered into agreements with companies operating in the prediction market space.
The WNBA already has established relationships with traditional sportsbook operators. DraftKings and FanDuel are its primary sportsbook partners, while Fanatics, BetMGM, and bet365 are among its other authorized gaming operators.
Adding prediction market companies would create another commercial category for the league to explore.
However, the WNBA will also need to consider the industry's reputational risks. Polymarket previously faced criticism after its international exchange briefly offered an unusual market involving whether a sex toy would be thrown onto a basketball court.
For now, the WNBA appears willing to explore the opportunity without committing to a deal. With the NBA already moving forward, the women's league could eventually follow a similar path.