When a WNBA team is valued at $450 million, the whole league takes note.

Before facing the Sky on Thursday, the Liberty reportedly received that valuation as owner Joe Tsai sold a portion of the team. That number would make them the most valuable women’s professional sports team in the world, far outdoing Chelsea of the Women’s Super League in England.

It’s a strong indication of where the league is headed, matching trends of rising attendance and TV ratings.

“It’s super exciting to see women’s basketball growing,” Sky star Angel Reese said. “You’re seeing people here coming [to Wintrust Arena] early, 90 minutes before the game. It shows how much growth we’ve had within the game and I’m super excited to be a part of it.”

Reese undoubtedly is a factor in that advancement. The Sky’s season opener Saturday against the Fever was the most-watched WNBA game ever broadcast by ESPN, with an average viewership of 2.7 million and a peak of 3.1 million.

Sky coach Tyler Marsh said the Liberty valuation speaks for itself when it comes to the level women’s basketball has reached. He believes it’s due in large part to players who transcend the sport and gain popularity beyond the court.

“These are incredible athletes with incredible personalities,” he said. “Any point where we’re able to uplift and shine attention on not just their ability to play the game, but highlight their individual personalities and who they are and allow them platform to be themselves authentically, it does nothing but elevate the game.”

The Liberty’s splashy valuation comes at a good time for players as their union works toward a new collective bargaining agreement. The majority of the league will hit free agency at the end of this season because players deliberately set up their contracts to cash in on what they hope will be a landmark payday.

The Sky’s only players under contract for next season are Reese, center Angel Cardoso and rookies Hailey Van Lith and Kamilla Cardoso.

The last publicly known valuation of the Sky was at $85 million in 2023.

Van Lith in early

Van Lith, the No. 11 overall pick, played only the last four minutes of the season opener against the Fever and was willing to wait it out if that’s where Marsh had her in the rotation for the foreseeable future.

However, she was rewarded with early playing time Thursday. Van Lith came in for starter Courtney Vandersloot with 2:54 left in the first quarter and helped the Sky cut their deficit from nine points to five by the end of the quarter. She stayed in for nearly two minutes to begin the second quarter as well.

“This year for me is not about immediate results,” Van Lith said before the game. “I am a practiced, patient person. Learning from Courtney and not being given everything I want right away is probably good for me.

No update

There has been no word from the WNBA as it continues investigating whether fans subjected Reese to racist taunts Saturday against the Fever in Indianapolis. Reese mentioned Liberty guard Natasha Cloud reached out and she gave Cloud a big hug before the game.

“I’ve gotten contacted from so many different players in this league, and it shows how much they love me and support me,” Reese said. “I’m super grateful. I have a lot of great people around me.”

Wade in Wintrust

Sky minority owner and Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade was courtside Thursday for the home opener. Wade, 43, bought into the organization 2023 and also owns part of the Utah Jazz.

Jefferson still out

Sky backup point guard Moriah Jefferson missed her second consecutive game because of a leg injury.