What happened: Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has overseen a period of exponential commercial expansion for the WNBA during her nearly seven-year tenure. The league's recent 'hypergrowth' includes significant financial milestones. However, this business success has occurred alongside ongoing friction with the players association.

Why it matters: The tension between record revenues and player dissatisfaction highlights the complex dynamics of the current administration. Engelbert helped negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement this past spring that established the league's first million-dollar salaries. She is currently the second-longest tenured executive in WNBA history.

What to watch: Management will attempt to maintain the current trajectory of commercial expansion while addressing internal concerns regarding player relations.