Cathy Engelbert

The commissioner of the WNBA knows that sports can change the world.

I have this theory that you must be your best in your ordinary moments so that you can be great in extraordinary moments. Having played and captained lacrosse and basketball teams, I do think that practice, practice, practice makes perfect. It was a big deal to me to come into this role. It gave me not only the responsibility of running the WNBA—the only women’s professional sports league to last more than 23 years—but also the potential to transform the entire ecosystem around women’s sports, women’s empowerment, and women in society. Less than 1 percent of all corporate sponsorship dollars go to women’s sports, and less than 4 percent of all media coverage goes to women’s sports. Sports can really move the needle on how women are recognized.