By Alan Snel
LVSportsBiz.com
Photos by J. Tyge O’Donnell
A mere month on the job, new WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert is in listening mode and plans to visit all 12 WNBA cities and markets before the league playoffs in September to get a handle on the teams’ finances and revenues.
Speaking before the nationally-televised WNBA All-Star Game at Mandalay Bay Events Center (home of the Aces) in Las Vegas Saturday, Engelbert is well equipped to understand the money numbers because she left her CEO job at Deloitte for the WNBA commissioner job.
” . . . my job and my immediate focus is around partnerships and sponsorships, broadening the fan base, getting more fans in the seats, so any help you can give for that, we’d appreciate, in transforming the W into a sustainable, thriving business,” she said.
Engelbert talked mostly in corporate speak, mentioning she wants the W to reach out to digital natives and millennials; plans to “work tirelessly” to address sometimes difficult game travel issues because of cramped space on planes and unpredictable air schedules; and wants the league to “offer our assets as a platform in business partnerships.”
She said the WNBA is the most diverse league in professional sports — something the league can use to market its product.
The WNBA has TV broadcast deals with ESPN and CBS Sports Network but it’s unclear to the players how much revenue is being generated from those partnerships. Revenues are an important factor because WNBA players choose to play overseas to make often more money than what they earn during the W’s 34-game schedule.
Revenues are an issue because the WNBA has reportedly lost an average of $10 million a year. And the league and the players union have just started collective bargaining agreement talks. Her comments on the topic: “We’re in the midst of a very important CBA negotiations including – we met with the Players Association earlier this week, and it was productive. We all have the same goals, and I look forward to continuing to connect with the players and teams. With everyone sharing a deep passion for this game, I am confident that we can strengthen the WNBA working together and growing revenue, driving improved economics for all. We need broad-based support, so thank you for your coverage, and please continue to profile the amazing stories of our highly talented, community-minded and socially-conscious players.”
Engelbert was asked whether WNBA players can make enough money so that they don’t have to leave the country to play for global teams. By staying in the U.S. year-round, the players can help grow the W and professional basketball. Engelbert said she plans to “tackle this issue,” again referring to the economics and finances of the WNBA teams that she said she plans to discuss with the franchises.
Star center Brittney Griner from Phoenix, playing on the Elena Delle Donne team, addressed both pay and travel issues after the game.
Carol Callan, USA Basketball Women’s National Team director, discussed a national team program for 2020 and the Olympics next year: “So at the same time that we were talking about the national team program, FIBA also added competitions that will help qualify for the Olympics. It creates meaningful games for us, and we are now working in concert with those events to add some training camps so that our athletes will be able to stay home.
“There are eight athletes who have committed to our program, and they will be Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Sylvia Fowles, Elena Delle Donne, Nneka Ogwumike, A’ja Wilson, Skylar Diggins, and Chelsea Gray. Those eight athletes will receive compensation that gives them the option to stay at home.”
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Cirque du Soleil performers were part of the players introductions of the two teams, picked by the two top vote-getters — Elena Delle Donne of the Washington Mystics and the Las Vegas Aces’ A’ja Wilson. Blue Man Group chipped in with in-game entertainment. Wilson could not play with an injured ankle.
The game was played with little defense and Griner delighted the crowd with three dunks in the first half. Mandalay Bay Events Center was mostly packed, with some open seats in the upper section behind the two goals.
With attendance of 9,157, it was the biggest crowd for a WNBA game since MGM Resorts International upgraded the venue with a $10 million rehab job in 2018. Kobe Bryant, an 18 times NBA All-Star, was in The House, along with current (just traded) player Chris Paul.
Women’s National Soccer Team star Megan Rapinoe was catching the game, too.
A terrific moment during the game was when five WNBA legends were introduced: Dawn Staley, Sheryl Swoopes, Teresa Weatherspoon, Lynette Woodard and Rebecca Lobo.
After three quarters, the Wilson team led the Delle Donne team, 105-95. The Wilson team emerged with the win, 129-126, with undrafted Erica Wheeler from Indiana winning the MVP.
Cassandra Cousineau and I wrap up the action from Mandalay Bay Events Center.
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