Digest

In this episode of the Drew Daley Show, hosts Neil Fryman and Toby Howell interview WNBA Commissioner Kathy Engelbert. Engelbert discusses the league's recent surge in popularity, driven by a new generation of star players like Caitlin Clark, and outlines her strategy for capitalizing on this momentum to achieve sustainable growth for years to come. She emphasizes the importance of investing in the league, both financially and through marketing, and highlights the need to address low player pay, noting that the WNBA is working to increase salaries and provide more opportunities for players to earn income. Engelbert also draws parallels between her 33-year career at Deloitte, where she rose to become CEO, and her current role as commissioner, emphasizing the importance of scenario planning, building relationships, and fostering a culture of innovation. She discusses the league's unique branding assets, including the striped ball, and how they are leveraging technology to engage younger audiences. The conversation also touches on the evolving media landscape and the challenges of navigating the intersection of sports, culture, and society.

Outlines

00:00:00

Introduction

This Chapter introduces the hosts, Neil Fryman and Toby Howell, and announces a special interview episode featuring WNBA Commissioner Kathy Engelbert.

00:01:51

WNBA's Momentum and Growth Strategy

This Chapter delves into the WNBA's recent surge in popularity, driven by a new generation of star players and a confluence of positive elements. Engelbert outlines her strategy for capitalizing on this momentum to achieve sustainable growth for years to come, emphasizing the importance of investment, marketing, and addressing low player pay.

00:21:23

Commissioner's Perspective on Sports Landscape

This Chapter explores the common themes discussed among sports commissioners, particularly media disruption and the need to create games of consequence. Engelbert highlights the importance of live sports in the evolving media landscape and discusses the transition from traditional media to new media platforms.

00:23:20

Commissioner's Cup and Investment Opportunities

This Chapter focuses on the Commissioner's Cup, a tournament designed to add relevance to the first half of the WNBA season. Engelbert also discusses her investment philosophy, emphasizing the importance of technology and scalability in the sports landscape.

00:25:11

Branding and Career Insights

This Chapter explores the WNBA's unique branding assets, including the striped ball, and Engelbert's career journey from Deloitte to the WNBA. She shares insights from her consulting experience and emphasizes the importance of continuous learning, building capabilities, and embracing entrepreneurial spirit.

Keywords

Q&A

• What is the WNBA's strategy for capitalizing on its recent surge in popularity?

  Commissioner Engelbert emphasizes the importance of investing in the league, both financially and through marketing, to achieve sustainable growth. This includes addressing low player pay, increasing salaries, and providing more opportunities for players to earn income.

• How does Engelbert's experience at Deloitte inform her role as WNBA Commissioner?

  Engelbert draws parallels between her 33-year career at Deloitte, where she rose to become CEO, and her current role. She highlights the importance of scenario planning, building relationships, and fostering a culture of innovation, skills she honed during her time at Deloitte.

• What are some of the challenges facing sports leagues in the evolving media landscape?

  Engelbert discusses the media disruption caused by the rise of digital platforms and streaming services. She highlights the need for sports leagues to adapt to this changing environment and create more games of consequence to enhance fan engagement and viewership.

• How is the WNBA leveraging technology to engage younger audiences?

  Engelbert acknowledges the importance of social media platforms like TikTok in driving attention among younger audiences. She highlights the league's digital transformation efforts to produce engaging content that resonates with this demographic.

• What are some of the key takeaways from Engelbert's career journey?

  Engelbert emphasizes the importance of continuous learning, building capabilities, and embracing entrepreneurial spirit, even within large organizations. She encourages young professionals to raise their hand for new opportunities and to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth.

• What is Engelbert's perspective on the future of the WNBA?

  Engelbert is optimistic about the future of the WNBA, citing the league's recent momentum, the emergence of a new generation of star players, and the growing interest in women's sports. She believes that the WNBA is poised for significant growth in the coming years.

• What is Engelbert's view on the relationship between the WNBA and the NBA?

  Engelbert acknowledges the benefits of being associated with the NBA, but emphasizes the WNBA's desire to establish its own distinct identity. She highlights the league's efforts to globalize its game and to create its own unique brand.

• How is the WNBA addressing the issue of low player pay?

  Engelbert acknowledges the need to address low player pay and highlights the league's efforts to increase salaries and provide more opportunities for players to earn income. She notes that the WNBA is working to secure better media rights deals and to attract more corporate sponsorships.

• What is Engelbert's perspective on the role of technology in the future of sports?

  Engelbert sees generative AI as a transformative technology that could impact the sports landscape, particularly in game presentation and technology. She believes that sports leagues need to embrace technology to stay ahead of the curve and to engage fans in new ways.

Show Notes