Commissioner Cathy Engelbert talks CBA, growth and more minutes before

Moments before making dreams come for potential customers chosen in the 2025 WNBA Draft, commissioner Cathy Engelbert responded to concerns on the state of the league.

The commissioner primarily deflected on the most relevant topic– information on a brand-new possible collective bargaining arrangement for the 2026 WNBA season– but she did divulge a new task force to fight hate; share her thoughts on numerous elite college prospects opting to utilize an extra year of eligibility rather of going into the draft; and answered concerns on the possibilities of brand-new destinations for growth franchises.

Here’s what Engelbert shared– and didn’t share– throughout her media availability.

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO SHARE ON NEW CBA

With the existing CBA set to expire at the end of the 2025 season, the WNBA world is expecting a brand-new structure that might provide much better advantages, improve working environments and pay better incomes among other staff member requirements.

The commissioner said “there’s nothing to report” and talks in between the league and player’s association are “in the early phases.”

“So we remain in procedure of discussing what’s important to the players, owners, etc,” she said.

“I’m truly positive about the future of this league … and definitely positive about concerning a transformational CBA at this point.”

Hours before Engelbert took the podium inside The Shed– this year’s website for the draft in Manhattan– a Bloomberg report stated that the player’s union is still waiting on the league to take part in considerable talks on a new contract after the sport’s popularity rose. The report added that the union presented an overview for a CBA in December that consisted of substantially greater incomes, but the league hasn’t reacted to it.

“Incorrect that any proposition was offered in December,” the commissioner stated when inquired about the precision of the report. “Accurate we’ll continue to meet and interact personnel to personnel.”

Engelbert included the league “recently” got a proposal from the player’s association.

“We’ll deal with that as soon as we make it through tonight.”

Both celebrations have met multiple times in want to come closer to terms on a brand-new CBA, with players expressing the aforementioned needs required to strike a deal.

On Monday, Engelbert declined to share what the WNBA deem a fair offer.

“We’re not going to work out in the media. We’re going to negotiate with the players throughout the bargaining table.

COMBATING HATE TOWARDS WOMEN’S SPORTS

The WNBA assembled a four-pronged job force in an effort to provide a safe environment for players and teams, the commissioner exposed Monday. The pillars in the job force include:

• Keeping an eye on social networks and other digital platforms to spot comments and threats
• Reinforcing conduct requirements across all WNBA platforms, including league arenas
• Security measures put in location at the league and group levels
• Continued services of dedicated mental health clinicians resolving concerns that players have in a prompt

“More to come on this as we get to the idea of the season in May,” the commissioner stated.

The job force comes as the league experiences rapid development– online and in in-person– for a league submitted with “digital-native” 20 and 30 year olds.

WHERE WILL THE W EXPAND TO?

The 2025 WNBA season will include the league’s 13th and latest franchise– the Golden State Valkyries. In 2026, a brand-new team will begin play in Portland while Toronto will be the new home for the Tempo.

The WNBA plans to expand to 16 teams by no later than 2028 and “we’re still on track for that,” per Engelbert.

In reaction to a question based upon a report that called 3 cities in specific as possible expansion spots– Cleveland, Houston and Philadelphia– the commissioner decreased to validate, however stated there’s a “substantial need in our bidding process for a WNBA team in not just those cities however a lot of other cities.”

GAMERS STAYING IN COLLEGE

With the expected arrival of a brand-new 2026 CBA that could hike payer salaries, draft-eligible collegiate players had an incentive to take another year in school instead of going into the 2025 draft.

UConn’s Azzi Fudd and new TCU transfer Olivia Miles– two potential customers that would’ve surely been 2025 lottery game choice– were among some players that took an extra year of eligibility.

Engelbert does not see players passing up the draft as a small to the league and the decision is “OK.”

“To start with, we have an amazing possible novice class that you’re going to see this evening,” she said.

“College is something that players are going to make their own choices of when they come out, when they do not. We do not push them. We’re not disappointed in any of them. We like the truth that the NCAA has actually been such a strong theater into the WNBA.”