WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert on League Growth, Expansion, and Player Investment

Sustaining and Gaining Momentum

• 📈 The WNBA is focused on sustaining the momentum gained from previous seasons and continuing to gain on it.
• 🌟 A record-breaking preseason included a college tour visiting top player locations like Iowa (Caitlyn Clark), LSU (Angel Reese, Haley Vanlith), Notre Dame, and Oregon (Sabrina Ionescu).
• 📺 For the first time, all preseason games were available on broadcast or streaming platforms, enhancing fan accessibility.

League Expansion and Key Events

• 🚀 The league welcomes its first expansion team in 17 years, the Golden State Valkyries, who begin play tomorrow.
• 🏆 The New York Liberty will receive their championship rings on Saturday, marking a significant opening weekend.
• 🌟 The incoming rookie class is led by national champion Paige Bueckers, adding further excitement.

Addressing Undervaluation and Fan Engagement

• 💡 While fan engagement and social media interaction are high, women's sports are still considered undervalued by some investors.
• 📊 Growth strategies involve enhancing the economic model, including media rights, corporate partnerships, and in-arena/digital fandom.
• ✍️ The WNBA is investing in in-house expertise to drive player storytelling through short and medium-form content.

Enhancing Competition and Player Experience

• 🔀 Significant player movement in free agency has created more parity in the league, leading to more competitive playoff races.
• 🏆 The WNBA Finals will feature a best-of-seven series for the first time, increasing the potential for dramatic matchups.
• 🏟️ Teams are moving to bigger arenas, and the league will play a record 44 games this season, with each team hosting 22 home games.

Collective Bargaining and Future Investments

• 🤝 The WNBA is actively engaged in discussions with the players' association regarding the collective bargaining agreement.
• ✈️ Progress has been made, including providing charter flights for the entire season and playoffs last year, which will continue.
• 💰 The focus is on building a sustainable economic model and increasing player pay, supported by a new media rights deal, to set up the league and its players for future generations.