The Seattle Storm have sold minority stakes in their franchise at a record valuation of $151 million.

The sale of stakes to 15 investors will help finance a $64 million, 50,000-square-foot practice facility and business office for the Storm.

The Storm’s valuation is about 15 times the sale price of several WNBA teams sold previously.

“Investors don’t go off of anecdotes. They go off of [comparables],” owner Ginny Gilder said. “So hopefully, we’ve just set the floor. We’ve set a real-live floor. Not just the WNBA, but women’s soccer, women’s hockey, where women’s sports is going.” 

Two decades ago, the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority paid $10 million as an expansion fee for the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun, according to an SEC filing. 

In 2021, Mark Davis reportedly bought the Las Vegas Aces for just over $2 million. 

The WNBA’s TV ratings are on the rise, and a year ago the league raised $75 million from a group of investors that included Nike Inc., and businessman Michael Dell.