WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said the league “has seen big improvements in viewership this year.”Getty Images
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said there was “no better time to be a part of the WNBA” and that the league “will continue to fuel the transformation of our business” in her speech on the he state of the league ahead of Game 1 of the 2023 WNBA Finals yesterday. according to Andy Yamashita of the LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL. Engelbert addressed the league’s recent problem Bay Area ExpansionTHE “Highly anticipated” final match between the top-seeded Las Vegas Aces and the No. 2 New York Liberty and “various other topics.” His “most important point,” however, was the league’s “continued growth on and off the field.” She said: “The goal is to continue to grow the business and build the league to build on this legacy of these players, and for the next generation of players in the oldest and most successful women’s professional sports league in the world. country. Engelbert said the league “has seen big improvements in viewership this year.” These numbers “all become more important as we approach 2025.” While this year will see the arrival of the new Bay Area franchise and “perhaps the early termination of the league’s collective bargaining agreement,” 2025 is also the year the WNBA’s television rights deal with ESPN will expire. Engelbert: “Growing the league, increasing viewership, increasing attendance, improving the fan experience, digital, all of that has been so important before these negotiations.” Engelbert also “touted the league’s business growth.” The WNBA had “39 corporate partners at the league level” and it said that “continued investment from owners and partners has contributed to the increased valuation of the league.” She said a series of finals like that between Aces and Liberty can “help raise awareness of the WNBA.” Engelbert: “This is all good and part of our marketing plan to create household names and rivalries” (LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL, 10/8).
AROUND THE W: Doug Feinberg of the AP noted that LA Sparks F Dearica Hamby filed a “sex discrimination complaint” last month against the WNBA and the Aces, claiming that her former team and coach, Becky Hammon, “retaliated against her after she informed them she was pregnant. Engelbert said she was “not going to comment on too many details because this is obviously ongoing litigation at this point.” She added: “Obviously we will cooperate fully, we will see if there is any new information that we didn’t have at the original time.” Feinberg also noted that the WNBA had “its most-watched regular season in 21 years and its highest average attendance since 2018.” Engelbert: “Historic figures, not only on the ground, but also in terms of audience, attendance, digital engagement” (PA, 10/8).
