Commissioner: WNBA eyeing first international game in 2027 - ESPN

NEW YORK — As the WNBA is racing through free agency, commissioner Cathy Engelbert is already looking overseas.

Engelbert said before the draft Monday night that the league is looking to play a game outside North America for the first time in 2027. The WNBA expanded to Toronto this season, its first franchise outside the United States.

«We're heavily looking at that,» Engelbert said of playing either an exhibition or regular-season game overseas. «Obviously this year we have the FIBA World Cup. Next year we expect that we'll do something outside of North America as a true global game.»

The league welcomed its 2026 draft class days after a historic free agency period opened that included its first million-dollar contracts.

«I'm pretty emotional seeing 23 million-dollar contracts signed only two days into free agency,» Engelbert said. «Now these players can build real generational wealth.»

Commissioner declines to discuss her future

Engelbert deflected a question about her future as commissioner.

«I do crack up, everyone's focused on me and you should be focused on the hundreds and thousands of women who run this league outside of myself,» she said.

Engelbert went back at the reporter, saying, «I wonder if you would ask that of a man?»

The commissioner went on to say she was «thrilled with the trajectory, growth and was really looking forward to the next few years.»

Connecticut Sun sale

Engelbert said the Board of Governors still needs to approve the sale of the Connecticut Sun to Tilman Fertitta, owner of the NBA's Houston Rockets.

She said specifics of the move from Connecticut to Houston might be better discussed by the Rockets group and the franchise in the future.

Engelbert said she hoped Connecticut fans would