WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert reveals what fans misunderstand about her job originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Cathy Engelbert opened up about the work taking place behind the scenes as the WNBA experiences unprecedented growth. The WNBA has undergone a dramatic transformation in recent years, but commissioner Cathy Engelbert believes many people underestimate what it took to place the league in its current position.
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During a recent interview with Front Office Sports, Engelbert was asked to identify the biggest misconception surrounding her role. Her response was straightforward: People do not understand how hard everyone inside the league works.
“How hard we all work,” Engelbert said. “By the way, how great it’s been over the last few years to grow the league exponentially. Be in this hypergrowth mode. People don’t see that there’s a real strategy behind the business and that you have to execute on that strategy.”
Engelbert became WNBA commissioner in May 2019 after previously serving as CEO of Deloitte. Less than a year into her tenure, she was confronted with the COVID-19 pandemic and the enormous financial and operational challenges that followed.
Cathy Engelbert reflects on WNBA’s difficult path
The league successfully completed its 2020 season inside a controlled environment at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, but Engelbert said the difficulties extended well beyond simply getting games played.
“I think a lot of people don’t understand how hard that was because when I first joined we hit the pandemic and we had no people and no capital, and then we raised capital,” Engelbert said.
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The WNBA announced a $75 million capital raise in 2022, providing additional resources to invest in the league’s long-term growth. Since then, the WNBA has added teams, attracted new commercial partners and experienced a surge in attendance, television audiences and national attention.
Engelbert stressed that those gains did not happen accidentally. They were the result of a larger business plan and the people responsible for carrying it out.
“We hired a great team,” Engelbert said. “People don’t realize like we have such a great team at the W. I don’t think they realize how hard you actually work and I got two kids too and I haven’t seen them in five years.”
Her final comment offered a revealing glimpse at the personal sacrifices involved in overseeing the league during such a pivotal period.
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WNBA growth brings new challenges for Engelbert
The WNBA’s rapid rise has created considerable opportunity, but it has also brought greater scrutiny. Expansion, scheduling, officiating, player safety, travel and labor negotiations have all become significant issues as the league’s audience grows. Engelbert has faced criticism from players and fans at different points during her tenure, making the commissioner’s position even more demanding.
The league’s success has also raised expectations. Supporters are no longer asking whether the WNBA can grow. They want to know how quickly it can capitalize on its momentum and whether its infrastructure can keep pace with the increased interest. Engelbert’s comments offered a reminder that the league’s progress is about more than the stars producing highlights on the court. Every new initiative requires planning, funding and execution behind the scenes.
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WNBA players deserve the largest share of the credit for attracting fans and elevating the product. Engelbert, however, wants people to recognize the work being done throughout the organization to turn that attention into sustainable growth. Her job may occasionally appear glamorous from the outside. According to Engelbert, the reality involves significantly more work and sacrifice than most people realize.
