Pau Gasol has never shied away from showing his love for women’s basketball. Being a proud Girl Dad, just like his late friend Kobe Bryant, he’s always been vocal about supporting the game. Whether it was backing Spain’s 3X3 basketball team during the Paris Olympics or advocating for the WNBA’s growth, his passion is clear. And now, his latest show of support comes in the form of trust—trust in WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert and belief in the league’s bright future along with his intentions to aid the growth.

Gasol recently attended the Counter V event, a major gathering focused on basketball and sports development, where some of the biggest names in the industry discuss the game’s evolution. After his visit, he shared an Instagram video reflecting on his conversation with Engelbert. “Great conversation with Cathy. Obviously, she’s a good friend and she’s a great leader for the W. Hopefully, the audience, you know, they invest more and they understand more the importance of getting involved and helping grow sport, grow the game,” he said.

And Engelbert is equally optimistic about where the league is headed. She highlighted the upcoming addition of the Golden State Valkyries in 2025, a move that could significantly boost the WNBA’s expansion.

Given that the expansion fee for the franchise was reported to be $50 million over 10 years, it’s understandable to put high hopes on GSV. However, the WNBA commissioner’s ambitions don’t stop here—she is focused on the globalization of the game. And she sees Pau Gasol as a key player in that mission. “Pau’s been so great in helping us think through that as well,” she said.

Well, there is no denying that global influence has already shaped the WNBA’s history in big ways. Remember Lauren Jackson? The three-time MVP from Australia redefined what the post players could do in the league. And Portugal’s Ticha Penicheiro? A passing wizard long before France’s Marine Johannes earned that nickname last season. Clearly, international players have left their mark on the WNBA. So it’s understandable why Pau Gasol with his Spanish roots could be valuable for WNBA’s growth. And he is not stepping back from this responsibility:

“During the Counter V event, @wnbacommish , Commissioner of the @wnba , and I discussed the progress and growth of the league, the increasing level of play year after year, and the need to continue fostering women’s sports from a business perspective… Looking forward to seeing how the league keeps developing in the upcoming years,” Gasol wrote in the caption of his IG post.

And it’s not like Gasol is just throwing words around for the sake of it. The Spaniard has actively contributed to the WNBA’s growth in the past as well.

Pau Gasol had participated in a multi-million dollar capital raise for the WNBA

Back in February 2022, the WNBA made history with its biggest-ever capital raise for a women’s sports league. It wasn’t just about securing funds—it was about reshaping the league’s future. With a mix of new investors and existing WNBA and NBA owners, this move signaled a major shift in how women’s basketball was being valued on a global scale.

So, where was all this money going? Straight into key areas designed to take the WNBA to the next level—brand elevation, marketing, global expansion, digital innovation, and improving overall operations. The goal? To break down barriers, grow the game, and bring in new revenue streams. And judging by the league’s current momentum, it’s safe to say the strategy is paying off.

Now, here’s something interesting. Among a long list of business moguls, only two NBA legends stepped up as investors—Pau Gasol and Baron Davis. No wonder WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert is looking to Gasol as a key figure in taking the league’s globalization efforts even further.