WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has said that the league is in a period of “hypergrowth” despite having a tumultuous relationship with the players.
During her seven years at the helm, the WNBA has surged exponentially in terms of financial growth, attendance and TV ratings.
The rise of new generation talents like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, A’ja Wilson, Sabrina Ionescu, Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd may have aided that popularity surge in the US and worldwide basketball market but the league has thrived from being the striving counterpart to the NBA to a rising giant.
Financial boom fuels league’s rise
The over $3-billion media rights deal that Engelbert helped negotiate augmented the valuations of teams from around $5-10 million a decade ago to the current average of around $460 million.
The commissioner also noted that there are more than 30 women’s basketball millionaires and most of them are under the age of 30.
The current number of ballclubs taking part in the league is 15 after the Golden State Valkyries (2025), Toronto Tempo (2026) and Portland Fire (2026) joined.
The WNBA is set to have a record 18 teams by 2030 with Philadelphia, Detroit and Cleveland coming in the next four years.
Seattle Storm owner Ginny Gilder credits Engelbert’s leadership for the exponential rise while Washington owner Ted Leonsis described the commissioner’s tenure as doing great despite the issues the league is encountering.
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Strained partnership with players
Despite the financial gains, the WNBA has a strained partnership with its players.
Engelbert has encountered critical issues for how she has handled various situations, including for being out of touch or not doing enough to help combat social media vitriol.
Engelbert is trying to strengthen his relationship with the players. She is scheduled to meet with the executive committee of the players’ union to discuss the recent uptick in online hatred and threats directed toward players.
New York Liberty All-Star Breanna Stewart, vice-president of the WNBA players’ union executive committee, said there is a respect for Engelbert among the players, just not much of a relationship.
Her Liberty teammate, Ionescu, said she talks more to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver than Engelbert.
Star power drives commercial success
But above all this, the quality of play and the value of its superstars have risen.
Most players, nowadays, are being featured in commercials. From Gatorade to State Farm, Nike and CarMax, product ads feature some of the league’s top newsmakers.
Engelbert said that the dominoes have fallen after Clark was picked by the Indiana Fever after a successful stint in the NCAA where she held the all-time scoring record encompassing both genders.
She pointed out that she is proud of the financial windfall the players are earning and everybody sees the “W is here to stay.”
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