Cathy Engelbert teases more WNBA growth, mum on details for media rights, expansion

So naturally, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s annual press conference ahead of the All-Star Game was focused on that topic in Phoenix. But in many ways, there were just as many questions about the details for the league’s next steps after the presser than before.

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In the litany of topics Engelbert discussed on Saturday, most were left open-ended, or with promises for more details to come. The biggest topic was the new WNBA media rights deal, which The Athletic first reported is expected to be worth $2.2 billion across 11 years.

But the potentially landscape-altering contract, which has been negotiated in conjunction with the NBA as that league seeks a new media rights deal, has not been able to finalized yet because of contractual obligations. Engelbert said she couldn’t get into specifics at multiple points in the presser, but did offer a big-picture point-of-view on the deal.

“I haven’t been shy in saying we’ve been preparing for this moment for many years, saying how important media deals are to the growth and future of this league,” Engelbert said. “And these deals will be historic and a significant step forward.”

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The other big topic of the presser was expansion, with Engelbert addressing the two new teams — the Golden State Valkyries and Toronto — in the league and hinting at “more news on the front in the coming months,” restating her goal to be at 16 teams by no later than 2028. But as Valkyries prepare to join the league next season, Engelbert said the league has not finalized any of the roster-building processes surrounding an expansion draft.

“We have been talking with our teams, GM, head coaches, and our owners about the expansion draft,” Engelbert said. “It will most likely in December of this year because we need to do it and then we have the Draft Lottery and then the NCAA season concludes and then we have our draft. Yeah, our teams are aware. We’ll make final decisions and make those announcements in the coming months, but we’re focused right now on this All-Star Game, the season, the playoffs, but we’ll certainly be out with some information related to how that will work.”

Engelbert also answered a question about the league’s investigation into bonus payments that the Las Vegas Convention and Visitor’s Authority made to Las Vegas Aces — which The Next’s Howard Megdal first reported. Engelbert said the investigation is ongoing and that the league will “let the lawyers do the work before we speak about it.”

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Charter planes have been a topic of conversation for years in WNBA circles. Talks of the need for charter planes ramped up further after Phoenix Mercury star Brittney Griner was harassed in an airport last season and Indiana Fever rookie star Caitlin Clark had several fans swarm her this preseason. Earlier this season, the WNBA finally implemented a charter flight program. Engelbert thanked Delta, the airline they are partnering with for the program, and discussed wanting to further build on their partnership.

The program has had mixed reactions from players. Mercury guard/forward Sophie Cunningham talked earlier in the season about Phoenix’s plane being “too small” and the Washington Mystics continued to fly commercial during the first week-plus of the season. Engelbert responded to Cunningham’s criticism of the plane size, calling the plane issue “logistically complex” twice while explaining some of the complications the league faces with the program.

“When you do charter when you only have our travel size, you don’t necessarily do planes that fit 180 people when your travel size is in the low 20s,” Engelbert said. “Yes, some of the planes are small. … Obviously, it’s something that we work on, particularly for cross-country flights.”

The commissioner added that they “listen to the players” and hope the program gets better after the Olympic break.

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Finally, Engelbert was asked about the 2025 season schedule. While the current WNBA season is 40 games, the current collective bargaining agreement allows up to a 44-game schedule.

Annie Costabile of the Chicago Sun-Times reported last week that the Sky sent season ticket holders an email that said the team could have 22 home games next season. The Next has also reviewed an email sent to Phoenix Mercury season ticket holders, indicating the same possibility.

Engelbert declined to confirm the schedule change, but did acknowledge that the lack of Olympics or FIBA World Cup interfering with next season is a reason the WNBA is considering a 44-game schedule — and other changes.

“Yeah, we’re certainly looking at (playing) the max games up to 44,” Engelbert said. “Also, looking at playoffs and what we can do with our playoffs. So we’ll be back to you on some of the decisions around that that we’re working through with our teams and our owners.”

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