The WNBA is growing like never before. Now, the commissioner of the league is opening up on why.
Cathy Engelbert didn’t shy away from the obvious during her recent appearance on “The David Rubenstein Show.”
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Engelbert, who took over the league in 2019 after a groundbreaking run as the first female CEO of a Big Four firm (Deloitte), knows exactly why viewership is booming.
And yes, it has a lot to do with Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese.
Engelbert addressed the rising rivalry between Clark and Reese, acknowledging both the upside and the complications that come with high-profile storylines.
Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese with Commissioner Cathy Engelbert at the 2024 WNBA Draft.Brad Penner-Imagn Images
“When I came into the league, people watched sports for three basic reasons—rivalries, games of consequence, and household names,” Engelbert said. “We didn’t have a lot of household names, even though we had amazing players back then—and still do beyond Caitlin and Angel.”
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The commissioner was quick to point out that rivalries are good for sports—and great for growing fanbases—but that the online commentary surrounding women’s sports can sometimes take a nasty turn.
“In women’s sports, sometimes it’s complicated by the social media vitriol, which we denounce,” Engelbert continued. “It’s terrible what some of these players have to endure… the hatred, the vitriol, the misogyny, the homophobia, the racism—there’s no place for it in sport.”
Still, the numbers speak volumes.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert.© Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
“We brought tens of millions of new people into our sport last year because this rivalry came out of college.”
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So while the WNBA builds on the momentum of its growing fanbase, Engelbert’s message is clear that rivalries like Clark vs. Reese can be powerful—but only if the attention comes with respect.
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