Commissioner Cathy Engelbert remains committed to expanding the number of teams in the WNBA over expanding the roster size, she said.
In the two weeks leading up to the roster finalization deadline this past Thursday, outcry over player cuts reached a crescendo, as several first-round picks and fan favorites were let go. Critics, and rostered players themselves, called for increasing the roster limit from 12 to at least 14.
When the question came up prior to last season, Engelbert said that expanding the league’s reach in more cities was her priority, as she endeavors to make the league and its athletes recognizable worldwide. She said she told a group of players the same thing at an event recently.
“Knowing that expanding the number of teams will open up roster spots, and….essentially getting our next media deal a little more flair in hopefully multiple cities (will result in) more fandom,” she said.
Engelbert said she has told team owners and players that she’s always willing to listen to arguments for increased rosters and salary caps. But the prioritization clause of the Collective Bargaining Agreement played a large role this year.
The three-year-old contract stipulated that…
