Cathy Engelbert

higher demand, new facilities, better amenities. We did kind of what we called a historic CBA back in 2020. Now we're in another one and we'll do something transformational this year. But it's a confluence of all that and this popularity of the game. I mean, basketball is the number one team sport in the United States. And it's number two globally. So next to soccer.

higher demand, new facilities, better amenities. We did kind of what we called a historic CBA back in 2020. Now we're in another one and we'll do something transformational this year. But it's a confluence of all that and this popularity of the game. I mean, basketball is the number one team sport in the United States. And it's number two globally. So next to soccer.

So it's really an amazing time to be in women's sports and then in women's basketball. So, but let's not, this has been really hard, hardest. I mean, I spent 33 years before I came here in business. This has been the hardest five years because we had to, every rock we picked up, we had to transform something under it and Last year, my mantra was the bold will win. Everything must change.

So it's really an amazing time to be in women's sports and then in women's basketball. So, but let's not, this has been really hard, hardest. I mean, I spent 33 years before I came here in business. This has been the hardest five years because we had to, every rock we picked up, we had to transform something under it and Last year, my mantra was the bold will win. Everything must change.

So it's really an amazing time to be in women's sports and then in women's basketball. So, but let's not, this has been really hard, hardest. I mean, I spent 33 years before I came here in business. This has been the hardest five years because we had to, every rock we picked up, we had to transform something under it and Last year, my mantra was the bold will win. Everything must change.

And that was even before I knew Caitlin was even coming into the league. And then this year, it's sustaining gains. So I always have a mantra every year. But we stick with this strategy. Player first, stakeholder success, fan engagement. We've hired engineers, social media. We had none of that. I had 12 people in the league when I joined. And now we had no growth engine.

And that was even before I knew Caitlin was even coming into the league. And then this year, it's sustaining gains. So I always have a mantra every year. But we stick with this strategy. Player first, stakeholder success, fan engagement. We've hired engineers, social media. We had none of that. I had 12 people in the league when I joined. And now we had no growth engine.

And that was even before I knew Caitlin was even coming into the league. And then this year, it's sustaining gains. So I always have a mantra every year. But we stick with this strategy. Player first, stakeholder success, fan engagement. We've hired engineers, social media. We had none of that. I had 12 people in the league when I joined. And now we had no growth engine.

And now we have 25 people driving growth at the league level. We had one marketing person when I joined. Now we have close to 30 marketing people. I hired a CMO who was a long-time Nike professional. So, I mean, it's just been a great lesson in you need financial capital to hire human capital, but you need the people to grow the business. So, We were ready.

And now we have 25 people driving growth at the league level. We had one marketing person when I joined. Now we have close to 30 marketing people. I hired a CMO who was a long-time Nike professional. So, I mean, it's just been a great lesson in you need financial capital to hire human capital, but you need the people to grow the business. So, We were ready.

And now we have 25 people driving growth at the league level. We had one marketing person when I joined. Now we have close to 30 marketing people. I hired a CMO who was a long-time Nike professional. So, I mean, it's just been a great lesson in you need financial capital to hire human capital, but you need the people to grow the business. So, We were ready.

I didn't know this was coming as quickly as it did. I thought we need three or four more years. And what happened last year was sellout arenas and record-breaking viewership. And look at our preseason this year, Bill. We just had like sold out college arenas. That was the other thing I wanted to, how do you get the NCAA viewer into the W viewership?

I didn't know this was coming as quickly as it did. I thought we need three or four more years. And what happened last year was sellout arenas and record-breaking viewership. And look at our preseason this year, Bill. We just had like sold out college arenas. That was the other thing I wanted to, how do you get the NCAA viewer into the W viewership?

I didn't know this was coming as quickly as it did. I thought we need three or four more years. And what happened last year was sellout arenas and record-breaking viewership. And look at our preseason this year, Bill. We just had like sold out college arenas. That was the other thing I wanted to, how do you get the NCAA viewer into the W viewership?

And one of the ways to go back to those college arenas like we did with going to Iowa and Notre Dame, LSU, and then Sabrina and the Liberty will be playing in Oregon. So leading into the tip of the season. So, yeah, it's just every idea. We can be bold. We're a smaller league, smaller brand, but we can be bold and really bring what our fans want. We've been listening a lot.

And one of the ways to go back to those college arenas like we did with going to Iowa and Notre Dame, LSU, and then Sabrina and the Liberty will be playing in Oregon. So leading into the tip of the season. So, yeah, it's just every idea. We can be bold. We're a smaller league, smaller brand, but we can be bold and really bring what our fans want. We've been listening a lot.

And one of the ways to go back to those college arenas like we did with going to Iowa and Notre Dame, LSU, and then Sabrina and the Liberty will be playing in Oregon. So leading into the tip of the season. So, yeah, it's just every idea. We can be bold. We're a smaller league, smaller brand, but we can be bold and really bring what our fans want. We've been listening a lot.

They weren't given away, but they were cheap in the upper bowl.

They weren't given away, but they were cheap in the upper bowl.

They weren't given away, but they were cheap in the upper bowl.