Go big or go home! That was the mindset Cathy Engelbert brought with her when she became the WNBA’s first official commissioner back in 2019. Who would’ve thought just a few years ago, that a league facing an ‘existential’ crisis, unsure if it could survive a pandemic, would now be one of the most talked-about pro-sports leagues? Well, Engelbert’s plan to invest heavily and go global is paying off big time, and it’s only just beginning.

“Putting a team in Toronto is one small step,” Engelbert said as she laid out the future vision for the WNBA. While adding a team in Toronto marks a major milestone, it’s far from the end of the journey. The goal is global presence, more teams, and adding 48 new roster spots over the next few years. 

This is a huge opportunity for both players and the league itself. The WNBA is ready to capitalize on the surge of interest it has experienced lately. “The basketball was great, but the business was not,” she explained previously.

Hence, now the W isn’t just thinking big, they’re acting big. A quick look at the Canadian economy shows why Toronto was chosen as the first team outside the United States. The GDP of Canada is $2.14 trillion, with Toronto contributing 20% of that. That’s $428 billion. It’s a huge economic engine, and it’s no wonder Engelbert sees this as a prime opportunity to tap into that market.

Her vision for the WNBA goes beyond just adding a team in Toronto, though, as she revealed in an interview with Malika Andrews. She sees it as the first step in expanding the league’s footprint worldwide. “The economic impact in places like the Bay Area, Portland, and Toronto is going to be huge,” she said. 

She believes this will also elevate the level of play on the court, especially with expanded playoff formats and more games. The W envisions adding a seven-game series in the Finals. What if last year’s Liberty-Lynx series had gone the full seven games instead of five? It would have surely brought more business, considering the sold-out arenas. 

But do you know? Back when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, there were fears the WNBA could go dark for 20 months. But thanks to a much-needed 22-game bubble season—it survived. Now, with rising television ratings, increased attendance, and the arrival of superstars, the league is on the up and up.

The announcement of three new expansion teams, including Golden State, Toronto, and Portland, fuels the growth. While Toronto is already in the talks due to its name, Golden State Valkyries have entered the picture with their first-ever expansion draft picks.

WNBA expands, Valkyries announces its expansion draft picks

It was the first time in 16 years that a new team was added to the league, and the Valkyries made their mark by picking 11 players to kick-start their roster. They didn’t pick anyone from the Seattle Storm. Each team was allowed to protect six players. Plus, GS was required to select one unrestricted free agent (UFA). 

They ended up choosing Monique Billings from Phoenix. Their strategy didn’t include Seattle, likely because of the Storm’s focus on retaining free agents and protecting their star prospects like Mackenzie Holmes. The Valkyries’ picks include some experienced players, like Kayla Thornton from the New York Liberty.

But there’s also a focus on younger talent. The team selected Kate Martin from the Las Vegas Aces. The rest of the roster includes Temi Fagbenle from Indiana Fever, Iliana Rupert from Atlanta Dream, Maria Conde from Chicago Sky, Veronica Burton from Connecticut Sun, Carla Leite from Dallas Wings, Stephanie Talbot from Los Angeles Sparks, Cecilia Zandalasini from Minnesota Lynx and Julie Vanloo from Washington Mystics. 

But the team still has a lot of work ahead to build a competitive roster. Free agency and trades will be crucial for finding the right mix. Next year, we’ll see the same process for Portland and Toronto. The commissioner is quite confident about the business as she says, “We’re going to bring in tons of millions more with this draft class, our rookies and veterans.” So, let’s just wait and watch WNBA’s global vision become a reality.