Last month, the WNBA organized a preseason game in Toronto, a city and even a country where there is no franchise. A successful first, both popularly and in terms of marketing, as the boss of the league had envisaged a few months earlier.
“Hosting a WNBA preseason game in Canada is an important step for the league’s global growth” declared Cathy Engelbert, boss of the league, in January. “We look forward to building on the momentum and excitement that the WNBA has generated in Canada through this historic game”.
It was only the third time in its history that the WNBA hosted a game away for a preseason meeting after Mexico City (2004) and Manchester (2011), and Cathy Engelbert does not plan to wait another 12 years to repeat the experience. Clearly, the idea is to multiply meetings outside the United States.
After the historic merger this week between the PGA Tour of Golf and Saudi Arabia, he was asked about hosting a WNBA meet in the Middle Eastern country. A possibility she did not rule out. As a reminder, the United Arab Emirates, a neighboring country, hosted two pre-season NBA games between the Bucks and the Hawks in Abu Dhabi last October.
Players consulted
“I think we will assess this option based on our away schedule. It certainly wouldn’t be the first place I would go. But we have this opportunity, like in Canada, in Europe, in Asia and in Africa” replied the boss of the league. “A continent like Africa would also love a WNBA game to take place there. But, Saudi Arabia, we will consider it in the context of an EMEA game, that is Europe, Middle East, Africa, as part of our global strategy”.
If for the moment Saudi Arabia is investing more in men’s sport, organizing a women’s sporting event there remains complicated with regard to women’s rights in the country. And Cathy Engelbert is aware of it.
“I think that’s something to think about with WNBA players. We run a very player-focused, player-driven league, and I will go to them first and ask them where they want to play.” she added.
In the future, the monarchy wants to become one of the main players in world sport. In addition to the historic merger with the PGA circuit, the Saudis have also recently attracted many football stars to their national championship such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema or soon N’Golo Kanté.
