• Loading stock data...
Friday, October 17, 2025
exclusive
Teams

Cathy Engelbert Sees Rivalries, Revenue with WNBA Commissioner’s Cup

  • The WNBA commissioner spoke to Front Office Sports about the in-season tournament’s early impact.
  • “Special competitions were part of the player’s ideas as we were in collective bargaining.”
Las-Vegas-Aces-celebrate-winning-WNBA-Comissioner-Cup
Las Vegas Aces

After playing each other tight all season, the two best teams in the WNBA — the Chicago Sky and the Las Vegas Aces — faced off Tuesday night for the second-ever Commissioner’s Cup.

The spectacle saw perennial contender Las Vegas upset reigning WNBA champion Chicago 93-83 to claim the trophy and accompanying cash prizes.

It’s all part of commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s plan to continue building the WNBA into the premier sports entertainment product it has always known it is.

“When I came in, I said we need household names, storytelling, marketing, and we need to build rivalries,” Engelbert told Front Office Sports. “Because we’re smaller than the men’s leagues, our playoffs aren’t conference-driven, because we only have 12 teams and eight make the playoffs. So the Commissioner’s Cup was important to build rivalries.”

The Commissioner’s Cup is, of course, reminiscent of similar European trophy competitions like English soccer’s FA Cup. It provides teams and their fans another opportunity to take home hardware — and bragging rights.

One of the purposes of the in-season tournament was to boost the on-court product — the other to raise the financial bar for both the league and players.

“One of the ways to do that is to find other ways, one, to get them paid, but two, to drive revenue so we can pay them more,” says Engelbert. “That’s what the Commissioner’s Cup has now become in just its second year.

“It all started with ideas from the players and the league back in collective bargaining.”

  • Each Aces player was awarded a $30,000 bonus for playing on the winning team.
  • Cup MVP Chelsea Gray took home an additional $5,000.
  • Each Sky player earned a $10,000 bonus as runner-up.

The Cup is also becoming a major driver of revenue and exposure for the league.

Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase became the presenting sponsor of the tournament this season, while games streaming exclusively on Amazon Prime Video worked to draw in “digital-native and younger fans,” as Engelbert puts it.

Ultimately, the Commissioner’s Cup is providing a level of legitimacy that will help the league as it continues to push into the mainstream.

“I think we’ve been undervalued in the past as a legitimate sports media and entertainment property,” Engelbert says, “and now, I think we’re getting what we deserve.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Jon Ledecky

Islanders Owner Warns WNBA Against Labor Strife: ‘No Bueno’

Jon Ledecky drew a stark contrast between the two leagues.
Dave Checketts

Ex-Knicks President: When David Stern Accused Me of Skirting Cap

The Knicks walked away clean when accused of cap circumvention in the 1990s.
Apr 11, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; A view of an NBA basketball and backyard and NBA logo before the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Toronto Raptors at the American Airlines Center.

NBA Tries to Solve Fragmentation Issue It Helped Create

A new “Tap to Watch” feature will direct fans to live games.
Mar 12, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; General view of ESPN broadcast camera during a game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena.

ESPN’s New NBA Segment Resists Hot Takes

LeBron James tweeted in favor of the new segment.

Featured Today

May 25, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Derek Jeter walks the red carpet on Sunday, May 25, 2025, ahead of the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

The Players’ Tribune Is Still Kicking 11 Years Later

Founder Derek Jeter is still closely involved in the publication.
Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) celebrates with her teammates after her last second shot to take the lead 90-88 against the Phoenix Mercury in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on Oct. 8, 2025.
exclusive
October 10, 2025

Standoff Over WNBA’s Future Has Dominated Finals

CBA negotiations have stolen the spotlight from the Aces’ dominant performance.
Paul Cartier
October 5, 2025

Sports Organists Are Still Thriving in the Era of Raucous Arena Music

“When they walk out and they see a real organ guy, it’s like, ‘Wow.’”
Sep 27, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Jackson Chourio (11) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at American Family Field.
October 4, 2025

Milwaukee Moneyball: Brewers Are Beating MLB’s Deeper Pockets

Milwaukee is holding its own against big-budget competitors.

For Yankees, It May Be ‘Business As Usual,’ but Title Drought Lingers

GM Brian Cashman says a salary cap is not at the forefront of his mind.
October 13, 2025

RAJ Sports Withdraws Lawsuit Over Trail Blazers Stake

RAJ Sports had sued the Cherng family, owner of Panda Express.
Jun 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Mercedes driver George Russell (63) and Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli (12) celebrate their first and third place at the F1 Canadian Grand Prix at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve.
October 15, 2025

Mercedes F1 Team Rides With Russell, Antonelli Despite Verstappen Link

Russell took the Formula One seat at Mercedes in 2021.
Sponsored

How Jenny Just Is Shaping the Future of Sports Ownership

Jenny Just on bringing her investment experience to sports ownership.
October 13, 2025

Titans Turnover: Brian Callahan Firing Adds to Pattern of Instability

Tennessee fired coach Brian Callahan six games into his second season.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel (5) throws as quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) looks on during rookie minicamp May 9, 2025, in Berea.
October 9, 2025

Browns Paying $41.6M to 8 QBs, but Only 2 Are on Their..

Cleveland traded Joe Flacco to the Bengals this week.
October 9, 2025

The Yankees’ $319M Roster Flopped. Now Comes the Hard Part: 2026

The MLB club’s current contracts limit its flexibility somewhat for next year.
October 6, 2025

Connor McDavid Signs Short-Term Deal, Eyeing Oilers’ Cup Window

The three-time Most Valuable Player signs for below his market value.